It stings a little…
An unpleasant sensation, hiccups occur suddenly and usually last for several minutes. All it takes is laughing intensely or eating too quickly and the spasms occur. This involuntary physiological phenomenon occurs when you swallow a large amount of air too quickly. This causes irritation of the phrenic nerve, located at the diaphragm. This irritation in turn triggers spasms in the diaphragm, like contractions.
If it is benign, hiccups can ruin a moment, preventing you from speaking and breathing properly. There are dozens of techniques to try to make them go away. Some are scientifically validated, others, however, are mostly based on popular belief. Among all these tips, it is possible to:
- fill your chest with air and hold your breath for as long as possible
- try to breathe slowly and measuredly
- drink a large glass of water while holding your nose
- drink a large glass of water upside down
- suck an ice cube/melt sugar on the tongue
- gargle with ice water
- bring knees to chest
And if all these tips aren’t enough to stop your hiccups, maybe this one from Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiac surgeon in Georgia (USA), will help. In a video posted on his TikTok account, he recommends drinking a particular beverage. The explanations for the effectiveness of this beverage are not yet certain but the doctor believes that it stimulates the vagus nerve that starts in the brain and goes down to below the diaphragm. “This can reset the sensory input to the diaphragm and stop the hiccup arc.”he shares. This technique could also help activate the muscles in the back of the throat or cause a sudden change in the pH of the throat, helping to stop hiccups. Finally, “It may simply be a distraction, a sudden sensory stimulation that stops the hiccups in their tracks.”
The doctor’s trick is to pour “lemon or lime juice in the back of the throat.” Despite this acid advice which could put some people off, the expert is categorical: “That will stop it almost immediately.” Now all you have to do is try it!