{"id":33878,"date":"2023-09-30T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/2421c063-43d5-4704-8ca3-cda183665568"},"modified":"2023-09-30T12:46:12","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T10:46:12","slug":"is-there-actually-a-cure-for-hiccuping-a-doctor-explains","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/is-there-actually-a-cure-for-hiccuping-a-doctor-explains\/","title":{"rendered":"Is there actually a cure for hiccuping? A doctor explains"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many techniques to try to cure a bought of the hiccups \u2013 but they all have limited scientific proof. <\/p>

By Dr Nish Manek\n <\/p>

Published: Saturday, 30 September 2023 at 09:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Hiccups, those sudden and sometimes annoying contractions of the diaphragm, can be a perplexing phenomenon. During a hiccup your diaphragm contracts\u00a0and,\u00a0immediately after this,\u00a0the top of your windpipe (your glottis) closes, making the typical \u2018hic\u2019 sound.<\/p>

Hiccups can be annoying and inconvenient, but will usually pass on their own after a short time. People sometimes like to try things in the hope\u00a0of\u00a0speeding\u00a0things\u00a0up though. While there is no foolproof cure, several techniques have been suggested\u00a0(although\u00a0none of them\u00a0have much of an evidence base)\u2026<\/p>

1. Breathing techniques\u00a0<\/h2>

Holding your breath for a short time apparently increases the level of carbon dioxide in your bloodstream, which may help reset\u00a0your\u00a0breathing pattern and stop the hiccups. <\/p>

Other breath-holding techniques, such as breathing into a paper bag or performing a modified Valsalva manoeuvre have also been suggested (the way to do this is\u00a0by\u00a0taking\u00a0a deep breath in, then blocking your mouth and noise while pushing with your muscles as if to force the air out,\u00a0as if you\u2019re\u00a0straining on the toilet). <\/p>

These methods\u00a0are based\u00a0on the principle of altering the respiratory pattern and may help interrupt the hiccup reflex, but are not guaranteed to work.<\/p>

2.\u00a0Drinking water or swallowing granulated sugar\u00a0<\/h2>

Both of these remedies aim to interrupt the hiccup cycle by stimulating the vagus nerve, which plays a role in regulating the diaphragm contractions. While some people say these\u00a0techniques\u00a0do work, scientific evidence is,\u00a0once\u00a0again,\u00a0limited.<\/p>

3.\u00a0Eating something sweet or sour\u00a0<\/h2>

Similar to drinking water or swallowing sugar, consuming something sweet or sour is believed to stimulate the vagus nerve and potentially halt hiccups. Again, the evidence supporting\u00a0either the sweet or sour approach\u00a0is anecdotal.<\/p>

4.\u00a0Distraction and relaxation\u00a0<\/h2>

Engaging in activities that divert your attention\u00a0from your hiccuping\u00a0or induce relaxation\u00a0(such as counting backwards, focusing on your breathing or gently massaging the area around your diaphragm), may help interrupt the hiccup cycle. While these methods may not have a direct physiological effect, they can help shift your focus away from the hiccups.<\/p>

It\u2019s important to note that the remedies mentioned above have varying degrees of scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness. Most studies are based on anecdotal reports or small sample sizes, and there is a lack of robust research on hiccup cures.\u00a0<\/p>

Most of the time, ordinary bursts of hiccups will simply pass by themselves. The trick is in being prepared\u00a0to wait\u00a0for that to happen. That being said, most of the remedies suggested above are fairly harmless to try.<\/p>

If you have found a particular technique that consistently works for you, it may be due, at least in part, to the placebo effect. We tend to find the things we believe in are more likely to work!<\/p>

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>