What are Hiccups Causes and Home Remedies?

Hiccups are repeated sharp inhalations of breath caused by involuntary spasms of your diaphragm, the powerful muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and which increases the volume of the chest when air is breathed in accompanied by involuntary closing of the larynx (upper windpipe). They are caused by irritation of the diaphragm, for example by an overfull stomach or inflammation of the membrane around the heart.

If hiccups reoccur frequently or an attack lasts longer than a day, see your doctor.

Traditional and folk remedies are numerous. Here are some;

• Breathe in deeply and hold your breath while slowly counting to ten, or as long as possible
• Gargle for a couple of minutes with hot or cold water
• Sip several cups of cold water slowly.
• Drink a glass of water slowly, from the side of the glass farthest from you.
• Surprise the sufferer with, for example, a sudden slap on the back or by dropping something cold down the back of the neck. A door key or an ice cube often works.
• Drink a glass of orange juice
• Eat chalk (I know it sounds crazy).
  

Herbal medicine: Sipping peppermint or lemon balm tea may reduce the spasms.

Doctors sometimes recommend inhalation of increased concentrations of carbon dioxide. An easy way is to cover nose and mouth with a paper bag and breathe in and out into it for a couple of minutes. A tranquillizer such as chlorpromazine may also be prescribed to control the symptoms.