Remedies for Hiccups

A case of hiccups may be a fairly normal condition that anyone may experience but can also be troublesome at times. The condition is caused by a sudden contraction of the diaphragm and muscles between the ribs that further causes one to inhale quickly and involuntarily. The sudden rush of air causes the epiglottis in the throat to shut, causing the typical "hic" sound.

Technically known as singultus, hiccups can either last for less than a minute or can go for hours and even weeks. There is even a story of a man who had a serious bout of the hiccups that didn’t go away for 60 years. But such conditions can be rare as most hiccups usually disappear as fast as they appear. What makes it more interesting despite hiccups being quite common is that medical experts do not know the exact cause of hiccups. There are several reasons offered and each one of them may be quite true.

Treating Hiccups

Although most cases of hiccups tend to go away on their own, there are instances where they surprisingly don’t. In such cases, medical intervention may be needed where hiccups may go on for weeks without stopping. Sedatives and muscle relaxants may be prescribed by doctors in order to help treat severe cases of hiccups.

Home Remedies

For hiccups that may be considered common, there have been certain home remedies that may just help get rid of the condition. Although their effectiveness may be on a case to case basis, trying them out in order to get rid of that hiccup may be something worth doing. Here are some of them:

• Pulling your tongue to to stimulate the nasopharynx.

• Drinking water

• Swallowing granulated sugar

• Holding your breath or breathing into a paper bag.

• Pulling knees up your chest while sitting down and leaning forward

• Rubbing the back of the neck

• Biting on a lemon

Although these home remedies may not always be effective and apply for all cases of hiccups, they should always be worth a try. There are many other ways that some people may suggest in trying to get rid of hiccups. The more you know about them, the better , especially if you find yourself in such a situation. After all, there is always a visit to your doctor for help in case not one of those home remedies work.