Hiccups can be very annoying and don’t always go away quickly. Do you know what causes it and how to make it disappear? Take note of these home remedies to remove hiccups quickly and effectively.
- What is hiccups?
- Why does hiccups occur?
- How to remove hiccups quickly with home remedies
Surely you have had more than once those annoying chest spasms so annoying and is that most people have hiccups sometimes. Normally, it disappears naturally in a few minutes, but sometimes it can lengthen. If it happens to you and you want to know how to remove hiccups quickly with home remedies, we propose some effective ideas.
WHAT IS HICCUPS?
Hiccups occur when there is a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and plays an important role in breathing) that repeats several times a minute.
- Normally, the diaphragm goes down when we inhale air to allow it to enter the lungs and relaxes when we exhale so that air can leave the lungs and we can expel it through the nose and mouth.
The contractions cause us to suck in air suddenly and the vocal cords close abruptly, which causes the characteristic sound of hiccups.
Hiccups can occur at any age and may even begin to be noticed in fetuses around the 18th week of pregnancy.
WHY DOES HICCUPS OCCUR?
Many times, hiccups do not have an obvious cause, but the most common is that it appears after a large meal, drinking alcohol, after drinking a carbonated drink, laughing a lot or swallowing air when chewing gum or sucking candy.
It also happens when we experience nerves or a stressful situation or when there is a sudden change in temperature.
Keep in mind that hiccups are a symptom and that, in some cases, it can be a sign of a disease, such as:
- An injury or irritation of the nerves connected to the diaphragm that can have many different causes, from hair rubbing against the eardrum to a sore throat. It can also have more serious causes such as a tumor, an enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter), or a cyst in the neck.
- Central nervous system disorders such as encephalitis or meningitis.
- Metabolic disorders such as diabetes or kidney failure.
- Disorders of the digestive system gastroesophageal reflux or hiatal hernia.
Some medications such as corticosteroids or some tranquilizers can also cause longer hiccups than normal. And it has also been seen that it can appear after an operation, especially those that require general anesthesia or involve the abdominal area.
Normally, hiccups disappear after a few minutes, although sometimes it can last longer (even months). If your hiccups last more than two days or are very intense, you should see your doctor.
- Prolonged hiccups can lead to problems feeding, sleeping, breathing, or speaking.
HOW TO REMOVE HICCUPS QUICKLY WITH HOME REMEDIES
If hiccups are caused by a disease, it will need to be treated to eliminate it. However, in most cases, a hiccup that does not go away on its own can disappear with home remedies like these:
- Holding your breath for a few seconds is perhaps the best-known trick to remove hiccups and the truth is that it works in most cases. Breathing inside a paper bag is another common trick. Both techniques cause carbon dioxide to build up in the blood, which is thought to relax the diaphragm.
- Drinking small sips of cold water or gargling are ways to stimulate the vagus nerve, which links the brain to the stomach and coordinates breathing. This “tricks” the brain and causes it to notice the new sensation. Putting slight pressure on your eyes or temples works the same way.
- Being given a scare makes our breathing stop momentarily and increase the production of adrenaline. This causes the diaphragm to contract, the respiratory rate to normalize, and hiccups, in some cases, to disappear.
Some plants can also help remove hiccups:
- Rock tea is digestive and, in addition to eliminating hiccups, it is of great help in case of gas, bad breath or bad taste in the mouth.
- Another remedy of folk medicine is an infusion of a teaspoon of dill seeds.
Acupuncture and hypnosis are techniques that in some studies have shown some effectiveness in cases of persistent hiccups.
On the other hand, if you tend to hiccup frequently, try to avoid carbonated drinks and flatulent foods and eat smaller portions.
