At some point, everyone has been ambushed by the sudden and uninvited hiccup. The involuntary contraction of the diaphragm causes your vocal cords to close briefly, producing the telltale “hic” sound. While hiccups are usually short-lived, they often strike at inconvenient times. Many cures have been handed down for generations, ranging from quirky folk remedies — like thumping someone on the back — to more science-backed techniques, such as raising carbon dioxide levels in your blood. To help battle these annoying occurrences, StudyFinds has compiled a list of the best cures for hiccups.
Growing up, I was always told to drink from a glass upside-down (something some people still can’t figure out), have someone scare me, or hold my breath. While no “cure” works 100 percent of the time, there are self-treatments that seem to work more consistently. Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio created the first device designed to cure hiccups, according to a recent study. First known as FISST (forced inspiratory suction and swallow tool) and now known as the HiccAway Hiccup Straw, the tool successfully treated over 90 percent of hiccup cases much better than the traditional paper bag method!
Which hiccup remedies are the most prevalent? We’ve put together a list of the best hiccup cures that 12 medical experts believe work better than others. Some may be familiar, while others may seem a little unconventional. Did we miss one of your favorite remedies? Let us know in the comments below!
If your hiccups last longer than 48 hours, please contact your doctor.
The List: Best Cures for Hiccups, According to Experts
1. HiccAway Hiccup Straw
The HiccAway Hiccup Straw is the first straw-like device ever designed to cure the hiccups. Developed by San Antonio doctor Ali Seifi, the tool was formerly known as a Forced Inspiratory Suction and Swallow Tool or FISST. The company behind the straw says it works by “activating the two main nerves responsible for the hiccups.” But does it do what it says it does? According to Prevention, users can’t get enough of it. “Yes! Scientists and TikTok users agree the HiccAway is an effective way to get rid of hiccups instantly.”
A research letter published in the journal JAMA showed that 90 percent of people who have used it favor it more than other home remedies. Many home remedies “lack clear, standardized instructions and can be cumbersome to perform, and there are few, if any, scientific studies of their effectiveness.” Essentially, people are unable to perform physical-type maneuvers to stop their hiccups.
One Amazon reviewer called the HiccAway Hiccup Straw one of the best things to ever happen to them, since they no longer suffer hiccups for hours on end. “It works within moments to stop the spasm, you can feel the cool wash through your chest and throat.”
2. Alter Your Breathing
There are many variations on this piece of advice to cure the hiccups. Healthline recommends those dealing with hiccups to breathe in for a count of five and then out for a count of five. You can try inhaling a big gulp of air and hold it for 10 to 20 seconds before breathing out slowly. Another potential remedy is using the good-old paper bag trick by putting a lunch bag over your mouth and nose and slowly breathe in and out. Make sure to never use a plastic bag while trying this.
Medical News Today also suggests something similar but slightly different. Their experts say people should try inhaling and holding your breath for 10 seconds and gradually release the air. Do this three to four times. If the hiccups still occur, try it again in 20 minutes.
WikiHow has another maneuver to use to alter your breathing. They say people should take a deep breath by inhaling slowly. After doing so, make sure to plug your nose, close your mouth and hold your breath. Start gently breathing out like you were filling up a balloon. Doing so triggers your diaphragm and muscles to think you’re breathing. Lastly, open your mouth and slowly exhale. Hopefully that stops your annoying hiccups.
3. Hug Your Knees
Many experts suggest “hugging your knees” to stop the vicious cycle of the hiccups. Verywell Health notes that pulling your knees up to your chest puts pressure on the diaphragm. Doing so may cause it to stop contracting. You should use this technique while lying on your back with your knees bent. Pull your knees toward your chest and “hold for up to a minute.”
Healthline also endorses this method. However, they suggest sitting down in a comfortable place, bringing your knees to your chest and leaning forward. “This also compresses the chest by putting pressure on the diaphragm.”
As far as how long you should do so, Your Tango recommends hugging your knees to your chest for two to three minutes.
4. Eat Certain Foods
Does a spoonful of sugar help the hiccups go away? According to Insider, it does! A study conducted in 1971 found that eating a small amount of granulated sugar cured the hiccups in 19 out of 20 patients — a whopping 95 percent. Swallowing sugar stimulates the vagus nerve, which stops hiccups.
Another method is eating a spoonful of peanut butter. Because both sugar and peanut butter don’t go down easily, they require suction to gradually go down your throat, CNN.com explains. The forceful suction activates the swallowing muscles and the vagus nerve.
Verywell Health says sucking on a lemon also stimulates the vagus nerve. WikiHow notes, “The sudden sour taste of the lemon can cause a similar startling reaction as someone scaring you.”