Hiccups are annoying, and we don’t even know when they will start. But have you ever wondered why hiccups happen and how we get rid of them? Whether you’re having hiccups in the morning or right after you eat, it’s important to know what causes them and how to get rid of them. That is exactly what we’ll share in this article.
What Are Hiccups?
Hiccups are wretched, involuntary contractions or spasms your diaphragm makes. The actual cause of our hiccups is actually unknown.
But there are various triggers, such as foods that give you hiccups. These foods can be spicy foods, indigestion, smoking, pregnancy, and even eating too quickly. Hiccups are harmless, but they could be quite annoying.
Did you know that Charles Osborne (December 14, 1892 – May 1, 1991) holds the Guinness World Records as the man who had the longest hiccups ever?
He had hiccups for 68 years, from 1922 to February 1990, with an estimated 430 million hiccups. While that may sound cool for some, can you imagine the inconvenience?
Here are some simple ways how you can stop hiccups.
Paper Bags Will Get Rid of Hiccups in the Morning
Did you know that cupping a paper bag to your mouth and breathing in and out rapidly could relieve hiccups quickly?
Like holding your breath, the paper bag technique will build up carbon dioxide in your lungs, which will help relax the diaphragm. As a reminder, you should stop immediately if you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Lemon & Bitters
If you ask bartenders, you will get this tip from them. Bartenders have a lot of experience dealing with patrons who get hiccups on a night out.
Experienced bartenders will recommend coating a lemon with bitters and having the hiccup sufferer bite the lemon. According to some barkeeps, this is an instantaneous and fool-proof hiccup cure.
Chew Dill
You’ve enjoyed your meal, then hiccups attack. Learn how to stop hiccups after eating by munching on and swallowing a small handful of dill seeds.
Why does this trick work? By doing so, the vagus nerve in your diaphragm will be activated, stopping hiccups in their tracks.
Stick Out or Pull Tongue
Can you hiccup in your sleep? The answer is yes!
Waking up because of hiccups can be annoying. Go back to sleep quickly by sticking out or pulling on your tongue stimulates the glottis, or the opening between your vocal cords, which can ease the spasms that cause hiccups.
Drink Water
One of the most common tips, when you have a hiccup, is to drink water. Try drinking or even gargling with cold water.
Just take several sips of water in a row to exercise your esophagus and release the tension in the diaphragm. If this doesn’t work, try gargling cold water for 20 to 30 seconds.
If neither of these does the trick, drink a glass of cold water quickly, or move on to another method.
Peanut Butter
Does stress cause hiccups? In some cases, it can cause hiccups. With extreme stress and anxiety, we hyperventilate and this triggers hiccups. As they say, sweet food can relieve stress, so why not eat a spoonful of your favorite peanut butter? A spoonful of peanut butter will distract your diaphragm from hiccupping.
All of the work it takes to successfully chew, swallow, and rid your mouth of gooey peanut butter will change your breathing process and give your diaphragm time to relax and forget about hiccupping.
Plug Ears
You may find yourself asking, Why do I hiccup after I eat? When you eat too fast or eat spicy food, you could end up having hiccups after. Sure, it’s harmless, but what if you’re in public?Â
It could be a bit embarrassing if you’re in public as you’ll be getting unwanted attention. What if you’re with your date? Yikes!
If you can get into a private spot or if you’re at home, try this trick. Stick your fingers in your ears and keep them there for 25 to 30 seconds. This technique will send a message to your brain to relax the vagus nerve, calming your hiccups.
Takeaway
With all these tips on how to treat hiccups in the morning or any time of the day, you will realize how easy it is to get rid of these annoying hiccups.
[Source: Kegworks, Mayo Clinic, Reader’s Digest, Reader’s Digest, WebMD ]