Hiccups happen to all humans. These diaphragm spasms occur even before we are born, and may actually help babies learn how to regulate their breathing. The medical term for hiccups is Singultus; repetitive, uncontrollable contractions of the diaphragm muscle.
The diaphragm regulates breathing. When your diaphragm contracts, your lungs take in oxygen. When your diaphragm relaxes your lungs release carbon dioxide. But when your diaphragm contracts out of rhythm, you get hiccups! Try getting your diaphragm back into rhythm and getting rid of those pesky hiccups with a few of these tricks:
Hold your breath. We can take a deep breath, hold it for 30 seconds. If it doesn't work the first time, wait a minute and try again. Sitting is recommended in case you get dizzy.
Swallow sugar. I loved this remedy when I was a kid, hiccups meant I had permission to grab a full teaspoon of sugar from the sugar bowl, place it on my tongue before gulping it down!
Breathe into a paper bag. Steady your breath by slowly inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag 10 to 15 times. Again, sitting is recommended in case you get dizzy.
Drink water. Sip a 6 ounce glass of water as quickly as possible.
If none of these remedies work, give it a few minutes, most cases of hiccups end just as abruptly as they start, Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are intractable hiccups and may be the result of injury, irritation, infection or disease and need medical attention.
Comments