How to Get Rid of Hiccups
Most hiccups stop on their own within minutes. If yours won't, work through these simple tricks in order, with a breathing timer to guide you.
Hiccups are a spasm of your diaphragm
Your diaphragm is the muscle under your lungs that pulls air in. When the nerves that control it get irritated, it twitches and yanks in a quick breath. Your vocal cords snap shut a split second later, and that makes the “hic.”
Common triggers are fizzy drinks, alcohol, big meals, eating fast, swallowing air (gum, smoking), sudden temperature changes and excitement or stress. The tricks below either change your breathing (more carbon dioxide can relax the diaphragm) or stimulate the vagus nerve in your throat to reset the rhythm. None is proven to work every time, so if one fails, move to the next.
FIXTry these in order
Mark each one. Give each a minute or two.
- Take a deep breath in.
- Hold it for 10 to 20 seconds. Don't strain.
- Breathe out slowly. Repeat 3 times.
Use the coach below: it counts each round for you.
Breathe in slowly for a count of 4, and out slowly for a count of 4. This helps most when stress or excitement set off the hiccups.
Or breathe in and out of a paper bag held over your nose and mouth for a few breaths. Never use a plastic bag, and never put a bag over your head.
- Take small, slow sips of ice-cold water without stopping, or
- Gargle cold water for 15 to 30 seconds. Gargling stimulates the nerves at the back of your throat, or
- Suck on an ice cube for a couple of minutes, and swallow the water as it melts.
- Put a teaspoon of granulated sugar on your tongue, let it sit about 10 seconds, then swallow.
- Or bite into a lemon wedge, or taste a little vinegar.
The strong taste may stimulate the vagus nerve. Skip sugar if you're watching your blood sugar; use the lemon instead.
Sit down, pull your knees up to your chest, and lean forward. Hold for about a minute. The gentle pressure on your diaphragm may break the hiccup rhythm.
- Take a deep breath, close your mouth and pinch your nose shut.
- Try to breathe out against your closed mouth and nose, like you're blowing up a stiff balloon, for 10 to 15 seconds.
- Let go and breathe normally.
Skip this one if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure, or feel dizzy, unless your doctor says it's OK. Bearing down briefly changes your heart rate and blood pressure.
Count backward from 100 by 3s, say the alphabet backward, or name an animal for every letter. Focusing hard on something else can let the hiccups fade, and it's calming.
Other tricks people swear by: gently pulling on your tongue, or lightly tickling the roof of your mouth with a cotton swab.
Most bouts still stop on their own, even if nothing seemed to work. Eat and drink slowly, avoid fizzy drinks and alcohol for a while, and try again in a bit. If they last more than 48 hours, or make it hard to eat, sleep or breathe, see a doctor.
DOCTORWhen to get medical help
For hiccups that won't stop, a doctor looks for the cause first. If there isn't one to treat, they may prescribe medicine such as chlorpromazine, baclofen or gabapentin. Don't stop taking any of your own medicines without asking your doctor, even if you think one is causing the hiccups.
PREVENTFewer hiccups
Eat slower
Smaller bites and smaller meals mean less swallowed air and a less stretched stomach.
Go easy on fizz
Carbonated drinks and alcohol are two of the most common triggers.
Skip the gum
Chewing gum and smoking make you swallow air.
Mind the temperature
Don't follow something very hot with something ice-cold right away.
FAQCommon questions
How long do hiccups usually last?
Usually a few seconds to a few minutes. Hiccups lasting more than 48 hours are called persistent, and more than a month, intractable. Both need a doctor.
Does getting scared really cure hiccups?
Maybe. A sudden fright may jolt the nerves involved, and some people say it works. Like most hiccup cures, it's based on experience, not scientific studies.
Why do I get hiccups after drinking soda or beer?
Carbonation and alcohol both stretch and irritate the stomach, which sits right under the diaphragm. Drinking fast and swallowing air make it more likely.
Are hiccups dangerous?
Everyday hiccups are harmless, just annoying. The concern is hiccups that go on for days, because they can disturb sleep and eating, and may point to another health problem.
Is there a medicine for hiccups?
Not for normal short hiccups. For persistent ones, doctors can prescribe medicines that calm the reflex, after checking for an underlying cause.
MORETrusted health sources
Not medical advice. This page is general information to help with everyday hiccups. It isn't a substitute for advice from a doctor who knows your health.