Home remedies for hiccups
There are numerous home cures for hiccups. Techniques that stimulate the nasopharynx and the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to the stomach, and can decrease hiccuping:
- Gargling with water
- Putting a cold compress on your face
- Breathing into a paper bag
- Blowing up a balloon
- Drink a glass of water quickly
- Have someone frighten you
- Pull hard on your tongue
- Bite on a lemon
- Gargle with water
- Drink from the far side of a glass
- Taking deep, slow breaths
- Sitting down and pulling your knees to your chest for one minute
- Use smelling salts
- Place one-half teaspoon of dry sugar on the back of your tongue. (This process can be repeated three times at two-minute intervals. Use corn syrup, not sugar, for young children.)
There are methods that can help to stop hiccups by causing the body to retain carbon dioxide. It is thought that this carbon dioxide retention relaxes the diaphragm and stops the spasms that cause hiccups.
What are the reasons for hiccups?
- A hiccup is a sudden, involuntary contraction (spasm) of the diaphragm muscle. When the muscle spasms, the vocal cords snap shut, producing the hiccup sound.
- Common causes of hiccups include:
- eating too quickly,
- eating or drinking too much,
- diseases that irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm,
- abdominal surgery,
- strokes,
- brain tumors,
- breathing noxious fumes, and
- certain medications.
- Most cases of hiccups can be cured or resolve in a short time, and rarely are they a medical emergency. See your doctor if hiccups last more than three hours, or if they disturb your eating or sleeping habits.
- Home remedies or ways to get rid of hiccups include:
- Holding your breath
- Drinking a glass of water quickly
- Pulling hard on your tongue
- Biting on a lemon
- Gargling with water
- Breathing smelling salts
- Rarely, a doctor may prescribe medications such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), and metoclopramide (Reglan) for severe, persistent hiccups.
- Hiccups can be prevented by avoiding overeating, eating too quickly, or drinking too much to help prevent hiccups.
What causes hiccups?
There is no one definitive cause of hiccups, but there are some common causes that are known.
Some causes of hiccups include:
- Eating too quickly and swallowing air along with foods.
- Eating too much (fatty or spicy foods, in particular) or drinking too much (carbonated beverages or alcohol) can distend the stomach and cause irritation of the diaphragm, which can cause hiccups.
- Any disease or disorder that irritates the nerves that control the diaphragm (such as liver disease, pneumonia, or other lung disorders).
- Abdominal surgery can also irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm, causing hiccups.
- Strokes or brain tumors involving the brain stem, and some chronic medical disorders (such as renal failure) have also been reported to cause hiccups.
- Noxious fumes can also trigger hiccups.
- Sudden changes in temperature
- Fear or excitement
Some medications may also have hiccups as a side effect, for example:
- Medications for acid reflux
- Most benzodiazepines, including diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan)
- Levodopa, nicotine, and ondansetron (Zofran)
How can hiccups in infants and babies be stopped?
Newborns, infants, and babies commonly have hiccups which are usually not a cause for concern. If hiccups happen while feeding, stop until they go away. Hiccups might go away on their own or you can try changing position, making them burp, or calming them down. Sometimes resuming feeding will stop hiccups. If your baby hiccups often during feedings, try feeding when they are already relaxed and not too hungry.
If the hiccups are making your child upset, or if they are getting worse, contact your doctor.
What are the signs and symptoms of hiccups?
The only symptom of hiccups is a sudden, forceful movement of the diaphragm that causes the hiccup sound.
When should I contact my doctor for hiccups?
Hiccups usually go away on their own after a short amount of time and are not usually a medical emergency. If hiccups last for more than 3 hours, or if they are affecting your eating or sleeping habits, you should see your doctor.
See your doctor if your hiccups are accompanied by any of the following: abdominal pain, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, coughing up blood, or the sensation that your throat is closing.
How do medical professionals diagnose the cause of hiccups? Which types of doctors treat hiccups?
The vast majority of us are familiar with the feeling of hiccups, and can identify them when they occur. When seen by a medical professional, diagnosis of hiccups is generally straight-forward, based on a physical examination. In most cases, additional tests such as blood work or X-rays are unnecessary, unless hiccups are occurring as a symptom of a larger underlying health issue.
Which specialties of doctors treat hiccups?
Hiccups don't usually need medical treatment and usually go away on their own, but if they last for more than 3 hours, or stop you from being able to eat or sleep, you may need to see your primary care provider.
There may be many different specialists who treat hiccups depending on the underlying cause, for example:
- If the cause is a stroke or other neurological disorder, you may see a neurologist, a specialist in the nervous system and brain.
- If the cause is acid reflux, you may see a gastroenterologist, a specialist in disorders of the digestive system.
- If the cause is lung disease or pneumonia, you may see a pulmonologist, a specialist in disorders of the respiratory tract.
Is there medical treatment for hiccups?
Hiccups will often stop on their own. Home remedies are typically enough to get rid of hiccups.
If your hiccups persist for more than three hours, you may need to contact your doctor for treatment.
- A “hiccup bout” is an episode of hiccups that lasts up to 48 hours
- “Persistent hiccups” continue more than 48 hours, up to 1 month
- “Intractable hiccups” last longer than 1 month
If a person has severe hiccups that don't go away, a healthcare professional may prescribe medications. Chlorpromazine is often the first medication that is prescribed. Other medications that may be used to treat hiccups include haloperidol and metoclopramide.
Several types of drugs have been reported to help reduce hiccup symptoms, including muscle relaxants, sedatives, analgesics, and stimulants.
Phrenic nerve surgery is a treatment of last resort for individuals with long-term hiccups that do not respond to other treatments.
6 Reasons Why You Get Hiccups While Sleeping
When you hiccup, your diaphragm, which is your main breathing muscle that is located below your ribs and separates your chest and stomach, suddenly contracts involuntarily. This causes your vocal cords to close, which then makes the hiccup noise.
Why are hiccups ruin your sleep? We asked gastroenterologist Elena A. Ivanina, DO, MPH, to find out why hiccups can happen during sleep, and how to stop them from being a problem when trying to sleep.
1. You Have GERD
If you hiccup frequently at night, this could be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a condition where stomach acid regularly flows back up into the esophagus, which is the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.
When stomach acid leaks back up into the esophagus, it can cause irritation in the lining of the food pipe as well as in the nearby diaphragm. This can trigger hiccups, according to Dr. Ivanina.
Per the Mayo Clinic, in addition to hiccups and disrupted sleep, other symptoms of GERD may include:
- A burning sensation in your chest called heartburn, usually after eating, which might be worse at night
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
- Sensation of a lump in your throat
- Chronic cough
- Laryngitis
- New or worsening asthma
The best way to prevent hiccups that stem from GERD is to treat the root problem. Talk to your doctor to be properly assessed and given a course of treatment.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the following lifestyle changes can help curb GERD for some people:
- Lose weight if you have overweight
- Stop smoking
- Elevate the head of your bed
- Don't lie down for about three hours after a meal
- Eat food slowly and chew thoroughly
- Avoid foods that trigger reflux, including fatty or fried foods, tomato sauce, alcohol, chocolate, mint, garlic, onion and caffeine
- Avoid tight-fitting clothing
Or, your doctor may prescribe a stronger medication. Some people may find relief from their reflux by taking over-the-counter or prescription antacids which neutralize stomach acid. Others may require a stronger medication prescribed by a doctor.
2. You’re Eating or Drinking Near Bedtime
Eating a snack too close to bedtime can cause hiccups in the middle of the night.
After the food exits your stomach, that's when you typically feel a little lighter and less bloated. It typically takes a couple hours for food to be digested and leave your stomach, per the Cleveland Clinic. Food is digested and leaves the stomach when the stomach breaks the food down into smaller pieces using acid. After the food exits your stomach, that's when you typically feel a little lighter and less bloated.
If you lie down or go to sleep before the digestive process is finished, the food and acid will remain in your stomach and may even travel up into your esophagus, causing reflux. This can disrupt your diaphragm, causing hiccups, Dr. Ivanina says.
You are more likely to develop hiccups if you eat food or drink liquids that irritate the diaphragm or esophagus. These include spicy dishes and alcohol.
You should avoid eating spicy food and drinking alcohol before bed.
Tip
Even though it may feel like you're able to sleep better when you drink alcohol before bed, in reality alcohol causes more disturbed sleep.
3. You’re a Smoker
Puffing on cigarettes can produce sleep-hampering hiccups, too.
When a person smokes, they take in a lot of air which can cause their stomach to expand and eventually lead to hiccups.
If your stomach bulges out too much, it can cause spasms in the diaphragm next to it.
?Fix it?: Kick the habit and quit smoking. Here are some strategies to consider:
- Therapy
- Stress reduction
- Exercise
- Social support
- Prescription medication
Tip
The American Lung Association has a program called Freedom from Smoking which provides tips and support to help people quit smoking. The program is free.
4. You’re Taking Certain Medications
If you are hiccuping during sleep, it may be due to a medication you are taking. Some medications can affect the phrenic or vagus nerves, which control the diaphragm, and cause hiccups.
Psychiatric medications, such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood-stabilizing drugs, also list hiccups as a potential side effect. According to the Mayo Clinic, some psychiatric medications can lead to long-term hiccups, such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood-stabilizing drugs.
If you think your medication is causing you to hiccup, speak to your doctor. They may be able to prescribe a different drug or dosage.
5. You Have an Ear Infection
Did you know that ear infections are a common cause of hiccups?
The reason you get ear pain when you have an infection is because the tympanic membrane in your ear becomes irritated. The same type of irritation can also happen if a hair gets inside your ear and tickles the tympanic membrane.
An irritant can damage the nerves that supply the diaphragm, which can cause hiccups, according to the Mayo Clinic.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, other telltale signs of an ear infection include:
- Ear pain
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Poor sleep
- Fever
- Drainage from the ear (yellow, brown or white fluid)
- Trouble hearing
Treating the primary cause is always the best way to get rid of any problem. In this case, see your doctor to get a prescription for an antibiotic to get rid of the ear infection.
Warning
You should not try to clean your ear if you have an earache, as this can damage the sensitive tissue or push earwax further in, making the pain worse. This is according to Cedars Sinai.
6. You Have Another Underlying Medical Issue
Although they are not common, if you experience hiccups during bedtime, it may be a sign of another medical condition.
There are a few different physical problems that can cause hiccups, such as laryngitis, goiters, tumors in the neck, infections near the diaphragm, and hiatal hernia. These problems irritate the nerves in the chest, which can cause hiccups to occur on a regular basis.
Other conditions that can lead to hiccups include: tumors, infections, or damage to your central nervous system. This is because these conditions can affect your body's ability to handle the hiccup reflex, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some examples of these conditions include: encephalitis, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or traumatic brain injury.
If your hiccups do not go away and are disrupting your life, you should visit your doctor to rule out any serious medical disorders.
Are there any complications of hiccups?
Hiccups usually go away on their own or with self-treatment, so complications are rare.
- In severe and persistent cases, where hiccups disturb eating and sleeping patterns, weight loss, or sleep disturbances may occur.
- Rarely, cardiac arrhythmias and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD and GER) have been noted in severe cases of hiccups.
Is it possible to prevent hiccups?
There is no sure way to prevent hiccups, but avoiding overeating, eating too quickly, or drinking too much may help.
