The Dreaded Hiccup

Hiccups are a common occurrence for the human body and everyone and their mothers have a “cure” for them. I admit there are some questionable ones out there, but here are three quick and easy methods that have been proven to work, without spending money on silly gadgets! But first, let’s learn what makes these little annoyances start in the first place. If you have hiccups, don’t fret! They’ll be gone in no-time.

Why do we get hiccups?

Hiccups are caused by involuntary contractions of your diaphragm, which is the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen. Basically, it gets out of sync. Each contraction is accompanied by the sudden closing of your vocal cords which causes that little “hic”cup sound. In some cases they might be a sign of an underlying medical condition that you’ll need to see your doctor for, but in most instances they’re caused by overeating or rapidly eating and ingesting air at the same time. Which is why you should’t talk while you’re eating! Other causes could be too many carbonated beverages in your system, or a sudden surprise or emotional stress.

Get rid of these things!

Now to the cures. My best friend’s mother taught me this first one when I was a child. As an 8yr old, I didn’t understand why this odd method worked, but it does and I still swear by it.

The Paper Towel method – First, cover a glass of water with a paper towel. While holding it in place, take slow sips through the paper towel. Yes, the paper towel will get wet but that’s okay. Keep going… slowly. Usually after a few sips, the hiccups are gone. This method teaches the diaphragm muscle to slow down and regulate because you’re drinking slowly. Slow is the key! You’re also taking in less air as you sip through the barrier of paper towel. As hokey as it seems, I give this method a 👍🏻👍🏻. It’s also the easiest method to teach your little ones or inebriated friends.

My next go-to cure for hiccups is drinking a glass of water while bent over. This takes practice because it’s a method not commonly used for drinking in general.

The Drinking Upside-Down method – First, grab a seat in a sturdy chair. Bend over toward your knees, hinging from the hips, and put your lips on the top rim of your glass – opposite where they’d normally sip from. This may seem awkward at first, so take it slow. Have a paper towel handy for little dribbles if you’re a first-timer with this one! Slowly take a few small sips, not gulps. Similarly to the Paper Towel Method, this approach also decreases the ingestion of air while drinking the water because you’re constricting your diaphragm’s ability to move while bent over. My kids love this one because it’s fun and weird but it does take practice. Sit up after a few sips and take a breath. Repeat as necessary, but usually a few sips is all it takes!

My last method for curing your hiccups takes a little longer, but has many more benefits than a quick-fix. If you suspect your hiccups are emotionally connected, then this one’s for you.

Pranayama – the science of controlling your breath. In yoga, Pranayama is one of the eight limbs of the yoga practice. It’s not the postures or “asana” aspect of yoga, but the practice of concentrating on your breath with your body and mind. “Prana” means breath or vital life force and “Ayama” translates to extend or draw out, to gain control. Begin by taking a comfortable seat in a supportive chair or on the floor. You could even lay down on the floor if that’s more comfortable. Close your eyes softly, close your mouth and relax your jaw. Breathe in through your nose and out through your nose with slow controlled breaths, focusing on the diaphragm low in your belly. Start by counting to 4 or 5 on your inhale, aiming to keep that breath down in your belly as opposed to up in your chest. Pause for a beat or two before slowly releasing that air back out through your nose again for the same 4-5 count. Rinse and repeat! If you yawn, that’s awesome. If you keep your mouth open as you exhale the first couple of times, that’s fine! Tune in to your body and slow down your breath. Like everything else, it takes practice. So don’t get discouraged if this is your first go-around with breath work and you find it challenging. After 5 – 10 cycles of breath you should have those hiccups under control, but if it takes you a few more minutes, that’s okay.

Not just a hiccup cure

Pranayama has many mental and physiological benefits besides being a cure for hiccps. It helps improve lung function, increases oxygen levels in the brain, and exercises the parasympathetic nervous system to help reduce stress in the body and who doesn’t need more of that?! So don’t just wait for the next hiccup attack to practice breath work. The more you practice, the easier it gets and your lungs and brain will thank you for it. This is another one that’s fun for kids. What’s better than laying on the floor together, taking a moment to be mindful of your breath? Bonus points for holding hands! ❤️

I am not a doctor, but as a healthcare professional, I speak from what I know to be true from my own experiences. It is not uncommon for hiccups to reoccur in the same day or two. However, if you are experiencing a prolonged attack over many days and relief is evading you, then I would encourage you to seek advice from your doctor or nearest Urgent Care Center.

If you’d like to dive deeper with breath work, click here for my video on practicing Balancing Breath.