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5 tricks to get rid of hiccups

Whatever the cause of your hiccups, most often you just want them to stop. Here are five strategies that may help

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Best Health Magazine, May 2012

Why do we get hiccups?

Is it true that the purpose of hiccups is to push air from our stomachs? Perhaps, for babies.

Research from Queen's University recently suggested the hiccup reflex in infants may be triggered by the presence of air in their stomach, and that the hiccup acts as a burping mechanism to allow babies to drink more milk. Another, older theory about the cause of hiccups is that they occur when the vagus nerve (which runs from the brain to the abdomen) is irritated; your diaphragm contracts, which sets off a sudden closure of your vocal cords, producing the "hic" sound. Whatever the cause, when the hiccups start, you just want them to stop. Here are some ideas:

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8 Comments

Or you can lightly rub the top of your mouth with the handle end of a spoon for about 45 seconds. A doctor suggested it to me, and said sometimes when people go for surgery they hicup from the gas. So he rubs the palate and this stops the hicup.

Submitted by Don on Sat, 2012-06-02 7:40pm.

A sure fire cure is to take a very large mouthful of water then bend over, while standing, to get your head as low as you can below your waist and then swallow the water. The idea is swallow upside down and it works.

Submitted by PKS on Sat, 2012-06-02 8:14am.

The hiccup remedy my family uses is very similar to one below.

Has never been known to fail.

1. Have someone stand behind you and cover your ears.

2. Take 10 sips of water. One sip swallow, second sip, swallow; third sip, swallow; do this in a fairly slow rythmatic manner. Continue until you have done this 10 times.

The person behind you can know uncover your ears.

That's it.

Good luck!

Submitted by katepwagirl on Sat, 2012-06-02 1:02am.

Have you heard of Hicural? It stops the hiccups every time. It is safe simple to use and works in seconds. You can find out more at www.hicural.com.

Submitted by Chuck Ray on Wed, 2012-05-30 8:24am.

Drink some soda or sparkling water - the carbonation will cure you of your hiccups!

Submitted by Mamasan on Tue, 2012-05-29 5:02pm.

Eating a spoonful of peanut butter (all in one gulp) works EVERY time!

Submitted by Christina on Tue, 2012-05-29 2:36pm.

What *always* cures my hiccups is this (and yes, it seems strange, but IT WORKS): put a utensil (fork, knife or spoon) into a glass of water, and hold the handle of the utensil against your temple as you drink slowly. I don't know why, exactly, but this works like a charm for me every time! :)

Submitted by Amanda on Tue, 2012-05-29 2:10pm.

The following never fails - don't know why it works, but it does. Have someone stand behind you, grasp you earlobes and gently pull them back, while you drink a few sips of any liquid. That's it - hiccups gone!!

Submitted by C. Tracey on Tue, 2012-05-29 12:37pm.