Hiccups (sometimes known as hiccoughs). They’re annoying–embarrassing–funny (at times)–and sometimes painful. And yet, all of us at one time or another, most often without any warning, are afflicted with these funny-sounding, annoying things that feel like they come from somewhere near our stomachs.
Hiccups Defined
But what are they, really? Hiccups are defined as a sudden, involuntary inhalation that is stopped abruptly by the voice box closing, producing a short, sharp sound. Why this happens is almost as big a mystery as the cure. Most people seem to get hiccups when they eat too fast, swallow too much air, eat hot, spicy foods or liquids, or have an imbalance of carbon dioxide in their bloodstream.
Hiccup Cures
Here are a few of the hundreds of hiccup cures we found:
Why do some of these unique remedies work? The general goal for a cure is to increase carbon dioxide levels in the blood or to disrupt/overwhelm the nerve impulses causing the hiccups. This is done by holding your breath, drinking upside down, eating sugar, etc. Since your body isn’t used to some of these sensations, it stops concentrating on what’s going on in your diaphragm and pays attention to the new sensation.
Most of the time, hiccups only last a few minutes, but if they persist for a long time or seem to be happening on a frequent basis, contact your health-care provider.
What’s your cure for the hiccups?
