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I recently found a better way to get rid of hiccups, and I’ve been a doctor for 30 years
Don’t just hold your breath
First, let me say that this is purely anecdotal evidence. I’ve always had problems with hiccups over the years. I’ve tried all the standard solutions — holding my breath, drinking water, drinking water from the opposite side of the glass, letting a teaspoon of sugar dissolve on my tongue and ignoring it. None of them really worked for me.
Second, this applies only to regular hiccups. There are pathologic causes of hiccups which reflect underlying disease, eg. gallbladder abscess. This does not apply.
I can’t even remember where I heard this from, but it worked so well the first time I tried it, I was stunned that I hadn’t ever heard it. I searched online yesterday, and didn’t
What causes hiccups?
Understanding the underlying cause of the situation (the etiology) always leads to more rational therapy. A hiccup is caused by a muscle spasm. In this case the muscle is the diaphragm, which is a main muscle for breathing.
