Hiccupops

October 25, 2022 by Hiccupops

Do you need help with how to stop baby hiccups? Take some time to read about treating baby hiccups here in this brief overview.

We’re willing to bet that you can’t remember the first time you had the hiccups. Odds are good that you were a teeny, tiny baby with a case of teeny, tiny newborn hiccups!

While adorable, one mighty contraction of the diaphragm is enough to shake a baby’s entire body—and that can’t be comfortable! It can also be scary for new parents who don’t know what is happening.

Whether you findyour little one’s hiccups cute or calamitous, you have one mission: learning how to stop baby hiccups in their tracks.

At Hiccupops, we know a thing or two about the science behind the humble hiccup. We’ve used that information to develop our science-based hiccup solution for adults. While our Hiccupops aren’t ideal for the littlest hiccupers, we want to help their families vanquish those obnoxious contractions as quickly as possible.

After all, a tendency toward developing hiccups sometimes runs in the family! Ready to rid your pint-sized friend of their persistent little problem? Read on to learn all about how to stop hiccups in babies!

What Are Hiccups, Anyway?

A hiccup is a reflex, and every reflex is your body’s attempt to protect you. For example, you reflexively flinch when you touch something hot or sharp. You sneeze when your nasal passages become irritated.

Your body is more likely to respond with an involuntary hiccup due to stress or diet changes. Overeating, eating quickly, or eating spicy foods are frequently the culprits! These behaviors can irritate finicky nerves in the abdomen, throat, or mouth.

We often see tipsy characters hiccuping in cartoons. Both carbonation and alcohol can contribute to hiccuping. They create a subtle shift in your breathing pattern, which is enough to signal to your brain that something might be wrong.

Sometimes sudden anxiety or stress triggers the reflex. In some folks, hiccups tend to show up out of the blue!

You might not notice that your breathing has changed, but it’s your brain’s job to pay attention! In response, your diaphragm contracts, sending a rush of air toward the back of your throat. The air triggers your glottis, near your vocal cords, to slam shut.

Thus, your chest and abdomen shake, and you involuntarily produce a loud and distinctive “hic!” sound. Think of it as a spasm of the diaphragm.

Babies and Hiccups

Babies are brand new people. Their brains and bodies know how to function, but much of their behavior begins with survival reflexes. For example, if you touch a newborn baby’s cheek, they will turn their head and mouth in that direction, anticipating some delicious milk.

As babies grow, they begin outgrowing some of their reflexes, and they have to learn to compensate. There is a pretty big learning curve involved!

Luckily, many reflexes (such as the hiccuping reflex) remain to keep our babies safe. The slightest hitch in breathing or swallowing can be enough to trigger the hiccup response in an infant. Their new digestive systems are sensitive, so even the slightest irritation will set those hiccups in motion!

Common causes of hiccups in babies include:

Excess air in the stomach
Any disruption in their breathing pattern
Over-consuming milk or formula
Feeding too quickly
Just because (it’s a mystery!)

Think of your baby as a self-preservation machine. Every reflex is there to help keep them safe. Sometimes reflexes will misfire, and something as innocuous as a giggle fit can result in an afternoon of hiccupping!

With that in mind, it can be helpful for parents to recognize that hiccups aren’t usually a sign that something is wrong. More often than not, they’re a sign that something is right! Your baby’s sharp little brain is firing on all cylinders, working overtime to try and keep your little one safe!

With that said, hiccups shouldn’t cause excessive discomfort or vomiting. If they seem especially frequent or don’t seem to stop, consult with a pediatrician. Trust your gut and seek out help if you need it!

How to Stop Baby Hiccups

The truth? Baby hiccups are often more uncomfortable for the parents than for the baby! They might be loud and dramatic, but most babies don’t notice them!

Most babies will go on playing, babbling, eating, or relaxing, even with a noisy “hic!” emerging from their bodies every few seconds. After all, babies don’t know how to be self-conscious yet! It isn’t like hiccups can interrupt a newborn’s conversation!

Most parents seeking to get rid of hiccups in their baby are projecting. Hiccups might be uncomfortable, socially awkward, or annoying for you. That doesn’t mean that your sweet, oblivious baby shares that opinion!

The best advice from pediatricians is to let the hiccups run their course. Given time, your baby’s diaphragm will relax, stopping the hiccups. It might be a noisy few minutes, but you will both survive!

It’s hard to sit back and do nothing while your baby is squawking like a noisy little chicken! It’s natural to want to do something for your baby, even if you don’t necessarily have to. Here are a few things to try if you feel helpless and want to end those baby hiccups fast.

Notice Hunger Cues

You and your baby are still learning about one another. By now, you might be able to decode each of their distinctive cries. If you want to prevent hiccups, start honing in on your baby’s hunger cues.

Once you know when your baby is getting hungry, you can respond. If your baby gets too hungry, they are more likely to eat too quickly. Feeding them earlier decreases the odds of your baby swallowing excess air.

Burp Baby Frequently

While feeding, stop after every few ounces and give your baby a chance to burp. It’s the easiest way to eject excess air from the stomach as your baby eats. If air doesn’t build-up, it’s less likely to trigger hiccups after a feeding.

Reposition the Nipple

Some feeding positions result in your baby swallowing more air, even if they’re eating at a polite pace. Reposition the nipple to ensure that your baby takes in as little air as possible. You can also buy special nipples designed to help.

Try a Pacifier

If your baby does get hiccups, try offering them a pacifier. It’s often enough to reset their breathing patterns. Plus, it’s soothing!

Rub Their Back

Rocking your baby or rubbing their back can also help encourage hiccups to vanish quickly. Repositioning your baby is sometimes enough to do the trick! Any little shift can be enough to reset your baby’s sense of equilibrium and stop the reflex in its tracks.

What Not to Do When Your Baby Has Hiccups

Baby bodies and adult bodies are not the same! Just because you have a favorite hiccup remedy (such as Hiccupops, of course) doesn’t mean it will work on your infant. Most of the “quick fixes” you hear about aren’t appropriate for young children.

Here are the techniques to avoid when your baby is prone to hiccups. Knowing whatnot to do can help keep your baby equally safe!

Avoid Water Remedies

Many adults believe that drinking a glass of water in a particular way will help rid them of hiccups. While your baby might enjoy some water on a hot day, it’s unlikely to impact this reflex. It might cause more air to collect in their belly, leading to more hiccups!

Avoid Peanut Butter Remedies

Peanut butter is on the list of major food allergens. You shouldn’t offer your baby any foods on that list until you know they aren’t allergic. You also shouldn’t feed your baby peanut butter if they aren’t yet eating solids.

There is no scientific link between hiccups and peanut butter in babies or adults.

Avoid Sugar Remedies

In general, giving sugar to a baby is a bad idea. It can harm their soft, developing teeth. There is no scientific evidence that it has any effect on hiccups.

Avoid Gripe Water Remedies

Gripe water is a supplement. The FDA does not regulate any substance considered a supplement. Furthermore, there is no scientific proof that gripe water affects hiccups.

Get Rid of Hiccups at (Almost) Any Age With Hiccupops

Our science-based solution for hiccups isn’t for hiccupers under five, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep a few on hand! You’ll be well-equipped to figure out how to stop baby hiccups when you can quickly and easily manage your own! Consume one pop as needed to conquer your occasional hiccups, then enjoy uninterrupted bonding time with your precious baby.

Don’t have any on hand? Visit our shop and fill your cart with Hiccupops in Original Citrus or Sour Apple flavors. You can even sign up for a subscription to keep that sweet relief coming to your doorstep month after month!

October 18, 2022 by Hiccupops

Does your heart stop when you hiccup? This is a fairly common rumor, and the answer might actually surprise you. Check out this article to find out.

Hiccups occur for a variety of different reasons, and some bouts of hiccups can last an extremely long time resulting in very uncomfortable – sometimes serious – pain in the chest.

A never-ending bout of hiccups can be extremely frustrating, but can you imagine being this guy that had hiccups for 68 years?

That gentleman was able to lead a life with some modicum of normalcy, so are the old rumors true? Does your heart stop when you hiccup? Can you cure hiccups by simply holding your breath?

And most importantly…what are hiccups?

We’ll touch on that last part in a bit, but for now…really, does hiccuping stop your heart?

Does Your Heart Stop When You Hiccup?

Your heart can have palpitations or “heart hiccups” fairly often without the presence of any underlying or dangerous health situation. Especially if your heart is working harder than normal or if you have a mild heart palpitation condition.

With that said, no – The act of hiccuping does not solely stop your heart. To understand the science behind the annoyance, here’s a guide to hiccups:

Why Do I Have Hiccups and Why Won’t They Go Away?

Hiccups are a reaction of the muscle that separates your lungs and chest from your abdomen – also known as the diaphragm. When you get the hiccups, your diaphragm is contracting because of irritation somewhere in your digestive or respiratory system, usually brought on by food, drink, or mood.

Food

Hey, you’re hungry, understood! Take it easy though – if you scarf down your lunch too fast, it can disrupt your breathing pattern and/or irritate your esophagus, which are both sure-fire ways to get the hiccups.
And then there’s you, daredevil spicy food fans. If you enjoy foods that have so much kick in the flavor that it takes your breath away – hiccups will probably take your breath away, too.
Spicy pepper burps can be brutal. Try that same flavor on for size repetitively with hiccups. No bueno.

Drink

Carbonated or acidic beverages can irritate your esophagus or epiglottis. Alcoholic beverages are also infamous hiccup instigators. We humans aren’t great on moderation, that’s for sure – you don’t have to eat plain toast and drink flat water for every meal, but moderation is key!
Juice is good for you, and even a spot of wine or beer can be beneficial to your heart health from time to time. They’re also all loaded with sugar…guess what else can bring hiccups out of seemingly nowhere?

Stress

Some people just get a little more amped up than others in certain situations – social anxiety is a part of life, as is work and family-related stress. If you get too worked up, you may be cooking up your own little batch of hiccup day destruction.

Out Of Nowhere

You don’t have to have a good reason to be dealing with a hiccup session. Laughing too hard, some weird combination of a burp-sneeze-toot, or even talking too fast can throw your diaphragm into fits.

Hey Moms…Hiccups And Heartbeat Aren’t Related

Put down the mimosa, Ma! Hiccups will drive your kiddos bonkers, probably bring on a (borderline comical) cry-hiccup-cry spell, and require some big hugs. What they won’t do is directly cause any kind of heart issues or damage.

There Can Be a Few Health Concerns

Hiccups are a naturally occurring process of the human body that helps us to expel hazardous substances from entering our bodies. All things considered, however, a prolonged bout can turn into a pretty uncomfortable and dangerous situation – especially for the kiddos.

Diaphragm Pain

Probably the most lingering symptom of a bout with hiccups is the pain associated with having the muscle contract. Imagine flexing your biceps to full strength very quickly for an hour at a time. That wouldn’t be pleasant, eh – now imagine that pain in your sternum.

Difficulty Eating and Drinking

How can you enjoy a full meal and stay hydrated when you’re sucking air into the back of your throat every 15-20 seconds? And even if you find a solution, how can it be safe? The choking hazards are unreal.

Social Stigma

There’s no easy way to put this – if you’re enduring a fit of hiccups, it’s tough to be taken seriously. It’s no fault of your own because hiccups are associated with drunkenness and sloppy behavior. We get it, convulsing in public is not ideal.

Old Wive’s Tales

If you’re reading this, you’ve heard of at least one “home remedy” to cure hiccups. While this isn’t a complete medical guide to hiccups, we’ll break down some of those remedies here.

Holding Your Breath

The most common advice that you’re likely to get when it comes to curing hiccups is to hold your breath – even medical professionals advise their patients to try this method.

Holding your breath tends to relax your diaphragm – the muscle that causes hiccups by contracting. It stands to reason that this will work and it seems to for many people, but not everyone.

Someone Scaring You

The thinking here is that if someone scares or shocks you, your body will “forget” the hiccups in favor of putting up a defense toward physical harm. There is no evidence that this method works, and sudden adrenaline rushes have not been proven to alleviate a bout of hiccups, either.

Someone Pinching You

This falls along the same line of thinking as having someone scare you. The logic is that by having someone stimulate a pain sensor (i.e. pinching a sensitive spot when you’re not expecting it), will cause your body to ignore the smaller problem of hiccups and focus on the acute pain point. Unfortunately, there isn’t much evidence available to prove this, either.

Eating Something Especially Spicy or Sour

Unless you’re a sadomasochist, don’t try this method. This method of curing hiccups is something that older brothers tell their kid brothers to do so that they can watch them suffer. In short – it doesn’t work, so please don’t do it.

Drinking a Glass of Water “Backwards”

This method actually falls somewhat in the “win” column – it works…sometimes!

The idea is to drink a full glass of water, but instead of drinking it from the lip of the glass that is closest to your mouth, you drink it from the back side of the glass.

If that doesn’t make sense, envision yourself sticking your chin in the top of a glass and putting your mouth on the back surface of it.

Got that? It actually works sometimes because the angle at which you have to lean to drink the water coupled with the throat and epiglottis movements that happen while drinking the water tend to have a relaxing effect on your diaphragm.

The clear downside here is getting water all over the floor, your face, and up your nose. Death by drowning via hiccup remedies would look funny on your tombstone.

There Is Now a Real Solution

Hiccupops are proven to cure hiccups in seconds – that’s right, seconds. They come in the form of a simple lollypop and taste like one, too.

Hiccups cause a cyclical contraction in your diaphragm, and Hiccupops reset that cycle. Just a moment of enjoying the flavor of a Hiccupop reopens your breathing passages and aids in a restoration of normal breathing patterns.

Simple Fix for All Sufferers

If you’re someone who can’t seem to get over long battles with hiccups, you’re also someone who definitely wants to find a quick fix.

They cause a lot of pain and discomfort after a short while – some folks resort to inducing vomit to reset their diaphragm contractions!

If you’re one of the four types of people that we listed above who have hiccup triggers in the form of food, drink, stress, or “whoops” out of the blue – finally, there is a product that is proven to help instead of following your roommate’s advice to “oh yeah, bend this way and take a shot of hot sauce and then eat a cracker with mustard and then say six Hail Mary’s.”

You Don’t Need Voodoo or Spells to Escape Hiccup Hell – Try Hiccupops Instead

If you suffer from chronic hiccups or if you tend to get hiccups in inconvenient situations, you’ve heard a rumor and wondered “does your heart stop when you hiccup?” The answer is a big fat “no,” but hiccups are still a pain in the neck.

Everyone who has ever cursed their diaphragm for contracting and making them look or sound silly now has a healthy and trustworthy alternative outside of your Granny’s advice to “hold your breath.”

Unwrap a Hiccupop. Done. Party On.

October 11, 2022 by Hiccupops

If you’ve experienced them frequently, you’ll probably want to know how do hiccups happen? Here’s the science behind them and how to stop them.

Did you know that 1 in 100,000 people have chronic hiccups?

While chronic hiccuping may not be a concern for you, everybody hiccups randomly. It can be an annoying involuntarily reflex and can decrease your quality of life. It can even cause embarrassing moments in public or in meetings.

But how do hiccups happen in the first place?

We’re here to answer that question and talk about hiccup treatment. Read on to find out more!

What Are Hiccups?

Hiccups happen when your diaphragm contracts. Most often, this happens involuntarily and you can’t stop it because you don’t predict it happening.

After your diaphragm contracts, your vocal cords contract as well, which results in the classic hiccup sound.

Everyone hiccups differently and can be at different volumes. Some people may not even make a sound when they hiccup. Even though hiccuping may look different for everyone, it can still be a nuisance that you want to avoid.

How Do Hiccups Happen?

Hiccups can be caused by a plethora of reasons. The science behind hiccups can be complicated because there are so many different ways they are triggered.

Excitement and extended laughing can cause hiccups, or even intense crying as well. Anything that exhibits a lot of stress on your body can induce hiccups.

Eating a lot of food or carbonated beverages can also have a hiccup effect. Hiccuping is also a common symptom of alcoholism. Even if you aren’t an alcoholic, intaking too much alcohol on any night can cause hiccups to happen.

Swallowing air by accident can also be a common cause of hiccups. You may not even realize you swallowed air, and that is when hiccups can happen most unexpectedly.

Central nervous system disorders can also cause chronic hiccups, such as when you have a stroke or brain injury. It can also occur if you have nerve damage in places like your neck or ears.

Everyone gets hiccups for different reasons, but they can get annoying after a while. It’s helpful to know how to stop them.

How To Prevent Hiccups

There are several natural ways to prevent hiccups. While there are some hiccup remedies that are myths, we’ve collected a list of treatments that are proven to work. If your hiccups persist for several days, however, you should speak to your doctor.

Hold Your Breath

Most people grow up knowing the old holding your breath trick. While not all ancient hiccup remedies tend to work, this one normally does.

Hold your breath for about 20 seconds long (or shorter if you cannot hold it that long). Then, breathe out slowly. This will help relax your diaphragm and should stop the hiccups.

Other breathing exercises can have the same effect. For example, you can breathe in for five seconds, and breathe out for five seconds. This repetitive and meditative breathing will relax you and eventually make the hiccups go away.

Avoid Certain Beverages

As said earlier, carbonated beverages or drinking too much alcohol can cause hiccups. If you struggle with hiccups, it may be best to avoid carbonated beverages. This doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself every now and then, but avoid drinking them frequently.

The same goes for alcohol. If you struggle with alcohol addiction and have persistent hiccups, you can talk to your doctor about local resources to help fight your addiction.

Distract Yourself

Sometimes, just distracting yourself from the hiccups can help stop them. If you are constantly thinking about when the next hiccup will occur, that causes stress on your body and may make them worse.

Watch your favorite TV show, or play a game. Try to relax and distract yourself instead of focusing on the hiccups.

Induce Your Gag Reflex

Gagging may help your hiccups to stop too. Put your finger down your throat, but not far enough that it makes you vomit. Your gag reflex will be induced, and then you should practice calm breathing for a few minutes after.

Eventually, you should have control over the hiccups and they should stop.

Hiccup-Stopping Lollipops

A fun but natural way to stop your hiccups is to suck on lollipops!

Not just normal lollipops, though–you can actually purchase hiccup-stopping lollipops. At Hiccupops, we offer a variety of flavors for you to choose from at reasonable prices. Hiccupops are made with ingredients that stop your hiccups and relax your breathing.

These are great to have on hand if you experience random hiccups–especially if you have to go to a conference or event. You don’t want to start hiccuping inside an important meeting.

What If I Have Chronic Hiccups?

If you have chronic hiccups, which are hiccups that persist for more than two days, then you should contact your doctor immediately. This is because there may be an underlying medical condition causing your hiccups. If this goes untreated, it can potentially become dangerous.

Your doctor should be able to locate the cause of the hiccups or give you medication to stop them. While the natural ways we have discussed may be your first solution, you may decide you want to try medication instead if they don’t work for you.

Always consult your doctor first if you have any worries about trying natural remedies.

Stop Your Hiccups Today

Hiccups can be an annoying nuisance to handle. But, now you know the answer to the question ‘how do hiccups happen’ and how to prevent them. If hiccups are decreasing your quality of life, then you should take steps toward putting an end to them.

Hiccupops offers many different hiccup-stopping lollipops to get you started. Shop our wide collection today!

October 4, 2022 by Hiccupops

Are you curious about what causes hiccups? Check out this post for everything you need to know about what causes hiccups.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has never had the hiccups before. That’s because all of us have done something at one time or another that causes our diaphragm to contract — which is exactly what hiccups are.
Although hiccups are typically not that big of a deal and only last for a couple of minutes, it’s important to know as much about them as possible. That way, not only does it give you a leg up on how to quickly get rid of them, you can also stay abreast of what causes them in the first place.

If the last time you got the hiccups, it about drove you up the wall, you’re about to get a quick course on how to keep them from bothering you in the future.

What Are the Causes of Hiccups?

As already stated, hiccups are when your diaphragm contracts. Your diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle underneath your lungs that moves involuntarily whenever you inhale. This function is necessary because it helps you to bring air into your lungs.

Sometimes, while your diaphragm is doing its job, it either ends up pulling down as you breathe or it your glottis (a space that is right in between your vocal cords) closes up which keeps your system from receiving the air that it needs. This creates a spasm that causes your throat or chest to tighten. And then — a hiccup happens.

While there isn’t really a way to anticipate if one of these things will automatically cause you to end up with a bout of hiccups, there are some proven triggers that typically lead to them.

Eating or drinking too quickly
Eating too much food
Eating spicy food
Consuming carbonated drinks
Drinking something that is too hot or cold for your system
Swallowing too much air at one time
Inadvertently swallowing air while chewing gum
Experiencing a sudden change in air temperature
Being overly excited
Taking medication that treats anxiety
Inhaling toxic fumes
Stress

All of these things can happen to any of us. However, it should go on record that men, people who’ve had abdominal surgery (or recently received general anesthesia), and individuals who experience intense emotions are the most prone to getting hiccups the most often.

Why Do PeopleTend to Get Hiccups When They’re Inebriated?

OK, so what about the people who seem to get hiccups mostly when they are tipsy or drunk? What is the connection between alcohol and hiccups? Good question.

As you’ve already read, drinking too fast can trigger hiccups. Well, if what you’re drinking happens to be an alcoholic beverage, it can irritate your digestive system. Something else that alcohol has the tendency to do is upset your esophagus (the tube that runs from your throat to your stomach). When either of these things happen, that can cause hiccups.

The good news is the remedy for “alcohol hiccups” is pretty much the same as what you should do for any other kind (more on that in a sec). However, it is important to keep in mind that the kind of alcohol that triggers hiccups most often is beer. Not only that but the slower that you drink alcohol, the more you decrease your chances of having hiccups.

What Can You Do to Get Rid of Hiccups?

Now that you know what causes hiccups, you might be thinking, “So, it looks like I shouldn’t have my favorite spicy dish or a tall glass of mineral water anymore.” Things don’t have to be that extreme. Knowing what triggers a hiccup can help you to be less confused when they happen. Still, there are things that you can do to stop them if/when they do.

Short-term, occasional hiccups (ones that only last for a couple of minutes) usually stop on their own. If it’s been a few minutes longer than that and you want to speed up the healing process, here are some things that you can do:

Eat a teaspoon of white sugar
Gently tug your tongue outwards
Lift up your uvula (the hanging piece of flesh that’s in between your tonsils) with a spoon
Drink a glass of cold, non-carbonated water
Gargle some water
Count to five (to relax) and then take deep slow breaths
Hold your breath
Breathe into a paper bag
Bite into a lemon or have a teaspoon of vinegar
Pull your knees up to your chest

You Can Also Suck on a Lollipop!

Yes, you absolutely read that right. Sucking on a lollipop can help with curing hiccups too. Now before you get too excited about that, you’re not going to get past your hiccups with any old lollipop that you find at your local grocery store. No, there is a specific kind of lollipop that you will need.

It’s called a Hiccupops and some of its users say that it can stop hiccups in a matter of seconds! The science behind Hiccupops is there are specific ingredients in the lollipop that helps to relax your hiccup reflex. Some of them include at-home remedies that we already mentioned like apple cider vinegar and sugar.

Hiccupops currently come in original citrus and sour apple flavors. And, so long as you keep them stored at room temperature, sucking on just one of them should take care of your hiccup problem. How cool is that?

What If None of These Remedies Fix My Hiccups?

In most cases, doing one of the things suggested should get rid of your hiccups. However, if they end up lasting for longer than a couple of days, you may havea serious medical conditioncalled chronic or intractable hiccups. These also happen more often with men. There are other demographics that are more prone to getting them, though:

Being pregnant
Having pneumonia
Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol
Having some sort of mental health issue
Experiencing a liver, bowel, or stomach-related illness
Having nerve damage in your body
Having cancer

Some of these issues are serious. That’s why, if you’ve had hiccups that have been non-stop for more than 48 hours, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Based on their diagnosis, they may prescribe a medication (like chlorpromazine or valproic acid). Sometimes they might suggest seeing an acupuncturist. In some instances, surgery may be required. Or, the underlying condition may need to be treated first.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Chronic Hiccups?

So, what if you keep experiencing hiccups and you refuse to go to the doctor? Are there some long-term effects that you should be aware of? Good questions.

Aside from the fact that ignoring chronic hiccups could mean that there is an underlying issue that is going untreated, constant hiccups can also prevent you from getting the rest that your body needs. Some people with chronic hiccups end up losing a significant amount of weight. Non-stop, persistent hiccups can also result in serious impacts to quality of life and mental health.

What Might Surprise You About Hiccups

As you’re learning more and more about hiccups, there are also some fun facts that you might interest you:

The medical term for hiccup is the Latin word singultus. It means “to catch one’s breath while crying”
Most mammals experience hiccups at one point or another
Infants hiccup the most often
Babies also hiccup while they’re in the womb
Sometimes hiccups will happen 68 times per minute
The medieval term for hiccups is “hockets”
The longest case of hiccups lasted for a whopping 68 years

Now That You Know All About Hiccups, What Are You Going to Do About Them?

You’re pretty well-versed in hiccups at this point. And now that you know what they are and how to stop them, it seems like now would be as good a time as any to stack up on a couple of boxes of Hiccupops, wouldn’t you say? That way, you can be prepared for the next time you have an unexpected bout of hiccups.

If you’d like to learn more about Hiccupops and how our product can benefit you, feel free to send us a message at any time. Hiccups are our thing. We’d love to help you out!

September 27, 2022 by Hiccupops

Find out what triggers hiccups so you can learn to prevent them – or at least stop them from happening often. This list has the information and tips you need.

The longest case of hiccups lasted 68 years. The man with these hiccups, Charles Osborne, was in an accident in 1922, triggering the start of a bout of hiccups that would last until 1990.

Could this happen to you? Thankfully, it isn’t likely.

Although, traditional hiccups that last for a few minutes can disrupt life, too.

But, what distinguishes hiccups that last a couple of minutes from those that last a few years. And, what triggers hiccups in the first place?

Keep reading to find out.

What Hiccups Are

Hiccups are involuntary sounds that occur when the diaphragm muscle spasms. The diaphragm is a sheet-like muscle that sits like a hammock below our lungs. With the intercostal muscles of the ribs, the diaphragm helps us breathe.

When it spasms, the negative pressure causes us to suck air into our bodies quickly. This rush of air causes the epiglottis in our throat to slam shut.

Usually, the epiglottis separates things we breathe in from things we ingest. The epiglottis acts like a lid to our larynx. It shuts closed to prevent foods and drinks from entering our windpipe.

The closure of the epiglottis is what causes the ‘hic’ sound during hiccups.

Most hiccups will resolve on their own after a few minutes. If you’re experiencing hiccups that last longer than a few minutes, it could be a sign of an underlying disease process. There are also some medications that may cause prolonged hiccupping.

Symptoms of Hiccups

All of us are keen on what hiccups look and sound like. But, not all hiccups are created equal.

Here are a few signs that you may be hiccupping, even if it doesn’t seem like it:

You feel a sharp contraction between your chest and abdomen
Your body involuntarily sucks air into your throat
You feel a shutting mechanism in your throat

Whether you experience one or all of these sensations, they should go away in a few minutes. If you’re having prolonged hiccups, you should talk to your healthcare provider about whether you have an underlying problem causing your hiccups.

Facts About Hiccups

Hiccups are fascinating. They may seem annoying while they’re happening, but our bodies are doing something that’s pretty cool.

Here are some facts about hiccups you might have not known:

The longest hiccup streak lasted 68 years
The medical term for hiccups is singultus
Hiccups occur in almost all mammals
Hiccups occur more often in infants than in other humans
Fetuses can hiccup in the womb
Scientists don’t know why we have hiccups (but there are plenty of theories)
Hiccups can happen up to 60 times per minute
People in Medieval Times referred to hiccups as “hockets”
The more you hiccup, the more likely you’re going to hiccup again
There are several remedies out there to ease hiccups from multiple causes

Hiccups have been around for as long as humankind can remember. Yet, there are still some mysteries we have yet to learn about them.

Causes of Hiccups

Hiccups occur when the diaphragm spasms. Like other parts of the body, the diaphragm moves based on when the nervous system says to move. In other words, the nervous system controls how the diaphragm reacts to stimuli.

Hiccups occur when particular stimuli trigger the nervous system to move the diaphragm.

Scientists aren’t sure why this happens. But, we do know what some of the triggers are.

What Triggers Hiccups

Hiccups can start due to a variety of reasons. Sometimes, there may be no reason at all.

All we know is that the majority of triggers place pressure on the diaphragm in one way or another. This pressure could be what causes the spasms we see with hiccups.

Here are some of the most common triggers for hiccups:

Eating food too quickly
Eating hot or spicy foods
Indigestion
Consuming too much alcohol
Drinking fizzy or carbonated drinks
Smoking cigarettes or vaping
Enduring too much stress
Smelling bad odors
Being pregnant

As you can see, there is a wide range of triggers for hiccups. And, this isn’t a complete list.

Each person may experience hiccups for a number of different reasons. Some people may have them for no reason at all.

Chronic Reasons for Hiccups

Prolonged hiccups could be a sign of underlying disease. Physicians consider hiccups “prolonged” when they last for days, weeks, or even years.

The most common culprits of diaphragm spasms are lung and brain disorders since they affect our breathing mechanism and nervous system respectively.

Additionally, patients who have had chest or abdominal surgery may experience prolonged hiccupping. As for medications, some epilepsy medications can cause hiccups as can nicotine gum.

Here are some of the most common conditions associated with prolonged hiccups.

Esophagitis

Esophagitis is a condition in which the tissues of the esophagus become inflamed. The esophagus is the tube in our throats that carry food from the mouth to the stomach. Inflammation from esophagitis can cause this tube to swell, making transporting food more difficult.

Patients with esophagitis may experience chest pain, difficulty swallowing, pain with swallowing, and even hiccups.

The reason why hiccups occur with esophagitis is unclear. But, some scientists suggest that receptors in our esophagus may send impulses to the vagal nerve. These impulses then travel to respiratory motor neurons, causing hiccups.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland is overactive. When overactivity of the thyroid gland happens, it produces too much thyroxine, which is a hormone that regulates all kinds of mechanisms in our bodies. These mechanisms include breathing, metabolism, heart rate, and more.

Patients with hyperthyroidism may complain of weight loss, a fast heart rate, heat intolerance, and more. Although rate, some patients can develop hiccups with hyperthyroidism.

The thyroid affects all areas of the body, including the hiccup center. High levels of thyroxine in the blood can set off the hiccup reflex, making patients with hyperthyroidism hiccup more than usual.

Keep in mind that you could have hyperthyroidism without hiccups. If you’re displaying other symptoms of the condition, you should talk to your medical provider about getting a thyroid panel done.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is a medical term that refers to inflammation of the pleurae, which make up the lining of our lungs. The swelling and irritation that comes with pleurisy can cause pain with breathing.

Inflamed pleurae cannot act as a lubricant for our lungs to expand and compress as we breathe in and out.

Symptoms of pleurisy include fast breathing, shallow breathing, shortness of breath, dry cough, fever, and pain while breathing. Patients with pleurisy may also experience persistent hiccups.

Patients’ bodies may develop hiccups because of the disturbance in breathing patterns. Since inflamed pleurae can’t lubricate our lungs properly, we may experience difficulty breathing.

Our bodies may perceive this as a problem with breathing in enough oxygen. So, our bodies set off our hiccups to make up the difference.

Hiccups allow our bodies to quickly suck in air. So, hiccups may be able to help patients get more air in while their body heals.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs. It can occur due to the infiltration of bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The type of pneumonia you develop will determine the kind of treatment you need to cure it.

Pneumonia can be fatal as the condition can cause our lungs to fill with pus and other liquids, making it harder to get the oxygen we need.

Pneumonia is very common, but it is most concerning in the youngest and oldest patients. People with pneumonia may experience sharp chest pain, fever, chills, fatigue, fast breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and more.

Another symptom that may present with pneumonia is hiccuping. In fact, hiccups may be the primary presenting symptom for some patients.

Some scientists believe that pneumonia causes inflammation of the phrenic nerve as well as the pericardial branch. As the inflammation presses on the nerves, it can cause the diaphragm to spasm. Therefore, pneumonia can lead to hiccups.

Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is a chronic condition that occurs when the kidneys aren’t able to properly filter waste from the blood anymore. Damage to the kidneys may occur for a variety of reasons, including prolonged hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes.

Symptoms of kidney disease include chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, foot and ankle swelling, hypertension, change in urination pattern, and nausea and vomiting.

Some patients may even develop hiccups with kidney disease. Hiccups with kidney disease seem to occur because of a multitude of reasons.

The main reason scientists looked toward is electrolyte imbalances. Kidney disease can cause uremia, low sodium, low potassium, and other imbalances. Electrolyte imbalances like these can affect the hiccup center of our bodies.

If the body believes that it’s off balance and not receiving the nutrients it needs, it may hiccup in response.

Brain Damage

Brain damage may include trauma from strokes, tumors, traumatic brain injuries, and other conditions affecting the brain. Each one of these conditions has the ability to harm the neurologic system because of its close proximity to the brain and spinal cord.

Patients with brain damage may experience headaches, fatigue, paralysis, weakness, tremors, seizures, and similar neurologic symptoms. Additionally, patients can experience hiccups.

Scientists believe that persistent hiccups may occur in these patients because of damage to the phrenic nerve. There could also be some damage done to the brain itself via intracranial lesions.

Persistent hiccups in these conditions can cause more complications, not to mention become annoying for the patient. Hiccups can cause a lot of movement for individuals with brain damage who need to remain still.

While the hiccups work to bring oxygen into our bodies, they may cause more damage from excess movement and stress. This is why managing persistent hiccups is important for neuro patients.

Treatments for Hiccups

While there is no cure for hiccups, there are several strategies you can use to ease your hiccups. From self-help strategies to medicinal treatments, there are plenty of ways you can ease your hiccups.

Self-Help Strategies to Stop Hiccups

Over the centuries, humans have accumulated multiple ways of stopping hiccups. Some believe that you have to scare them out, others believe you have to get more oxygen in your body, and others believe a multitude of other things.

No matter what your hiccup theory is, here are some self-help strategies you might use the next time you have the hiccups:

Holding your breath
Taking deep breaths
Breathing into a paper bag
Asking someone to scare you
Eating ice
Gargling water
Sitting down and leaning forward over your knees
Sucking on a lemon
Drinking hot water and honey
Eating a spoonful of sugar
Eating a little bit of ginger

You may have heard of some of these. In fact, you’ve likely used some of them.

Some of these strategies may seem silly to you, but the power of suggestion behind them may be the true hiccup-stopping strategy.

Other Treatments to Stop Hiccups

If you’re looking for a scientifically-backed treatment for hiccups, you should consider using Hiccupops. These are lollipops that can help you stop hiccups.

We used science to make our lollipops rather than depending on old folklore about the origins of hiccups.

The ingredients that we put in our lollipops help reset the hiccupping reflex. This returns your breathing to normal.

All you have to do is enjoy the lollipop.

If you’re curious about what others have been saying about Hiccupops, check out our reviews.

How to Stop Hiccups Fast

So, what triggers hiccups? Well, just about anything can do it.

You may have a little too much stress, eat a little too much food, or something else. Small changes in your body can cause hiccups to start.

Hiccups may help equalize our bodies by bringing in a good supply of oxygen, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t annoying, especially when they aren’t necessary.

If you’re looking to stop your hiccups fast, try our Hiccupops. We created these lollipops using the science behind hiccups. Knowing how the body reacts, we were able to formulate the right formula.

Contact our team if you have any questions.

September 20, 2022 by Hiccupops

Have you ever wondered what causes hiccups? A number of factors can cause these involuntary and irritating contractions of your diaphragm.

Did you know that a man named Charles Osborne had the worst case of hiccups in the world? He started hiccupping in 1922 and only stopped in 1990. Of course, most cases of hiccups are not so drastic, but nevertheless, hiccups can be quite annoying.

But what causes hiccups in the first place? As it turns out, a variety of factors can cause this phenomenon to start up. Hiccups can also last for a short time before going away on their own while some cases may last for days or even weeks.

Only in very rare circumstances such as the case mentioned above can hiccups last years. Fortunately, hiccups are not dangerous even in prolonged circumstances, although they can be frustrating to deal with. If you often get hiccups and ask yourself, “Why do hiccups happen?” keep reading and find your answers below.

What Are Hiccups Exactly?

Hiccups are a type of involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is an important muscle that plays a large part in breathing. Without it, you would not be able to breathe in and out.

The diaphragm is a large, flat muscle that lays horizontally beneath your lungs. It separates your chest from your abdomen.

When you exhale air out of your lungs, the diaphragm will curve upward against your lungs. When you inhale and your lungs fill with air, the lungs will push the diaphragm downward so it becomes flat again.

Your diaphragm is rich with nerves. Your vocal cords (and the rest of your throat, for that matter) are also enriched with nerves. When you hiccup, there is a reaction that involves your diaphragm and your vocal cords.

That’s the reason why you make a sound when you hiccup.

The Details

When you hiccup, not only does your diaphragm contract but your vocal cords contract as well. When this happens, your vocal cords will make a sound but the sound will be cut short by the vocal cords closing on themselves.

Once you get a case of the hiccups, it can be hard, if not impossible, to control them. That’s because the contractions of your diaphragm and vocal cords become completely involuntary. There isn’t any way in which you can take control of your diaphragm and get it to stop contracting.

Any guide to hiccups (including this one) will tell you that hiccups only last a few minutes. Then, your diaphragm should relax on its own and the hiccups should stop. There are also a few things you can do to stop hiccups such as suck on ahiccup-stopping lollipop.

But what are the reasons for hiccups anyway and is there a way to prevent them?

Eating Too Quickly

Most of thereasons for hiccupping are quite simple and benign. Hiccups usually start when there is some kind of irritation of the diaphragm. Once the diaphragm becomes irritated, the nerves surrounding it will tell the diaphragm to contract.

These contractions act to reset the diaphragm in a way. The diaphragm may become irritated by physical or emotional factors. Some causes may make the hiccups last longer than others.

Eating too quickly is one of the most common causes of hiccups. But what does eating too quickly have to do with the diaphragm, a muscle that has nothing to do with eating or digesting? Keep in mind that the diaphragm is a large muscle that spans the width of your chest.

Diaphragm Irritation

Your esophagus (the tube that delivers food from your mouth to your stomach) runs perpendicular to the diaphragm. It runs straight down into your stomach and passes by the diaphragm in the process. When you eat too quickly, you are usually not chewing your food that much.

As a result, large chunks of food will slide down your esophagus past your diaphragm. The movement and pressure of these chunks may irritate your diaphragm. Besides that, when you eat too quickly, you will often inhale large quantities of air between bites.

When this happens, you are also irritating your lungs which are right next to the diaphragm. You may even swallow some of that air as you’re eating. All of these factors will cause your diaphragm to become irritated.

As a result, there is a good chance that you will start to hiccup if you attempt to eat at a fast pace. On the other hand, if you slow down, chew your food, and gulp down air, you won’t have to worry all that much about hiccups.

Drinking Carbonated Drinks or Alcohol

You may have seen in movies or cartoons that people tend to hiccup when they’re drunk. This is actually true and not just something that you only see in movies. That’s because alcohol can be quite irritating to the diaphragm and the rest of your body.

The first thing you should know is that if your stomach becomes distended in any way, there is a good chance that you will get a case of hiccups. That’s because when your stomach expands and becomes distended, it will irritate the diaphragm as a result. This is why eating too much and too fast at one time can cause hiccups.

When you swallow air, the air may cause your stomach to distend, press on the diaphragm, and cause hiccups. Some forms of alcohol such as beer are carbonated and can add a lot of air to your stomach. Of course, this will cause your stomach to become distended and you may develop hiccups.

But that’s not all.

Acid Reflux

When you consume large amounts of alcohol, there is a good chance that the alcohol will start to irritate your stomach. As a result, your stomach will start to produce excess acid. In some cases, this may lead to acid reflux which is when your stomach acid splashes up into your esophagus, a condition known commonly as heartburn.

Acid reflux can also irritate the diaphragm and cause hiccups. Carbonated beverages like soft drinks work much in the same way. The bubbles in these drinks add excess air to your stomach.

Sugary, carbonated drinks also tend to irritate the stomach lining over time which can lead to acid reflux. All of these factors come into play when it comes to the development of hiccups. By drinking these beverages in moderation, you can avoid hiccups.

Stress and Fear

What many people don’t know is that emotional factors like stress are equally likely to cause hiccups as physical factors. Specifically, it is the phrenic nerve that innervates the diaphragm. This nerve is usually responsible for the control of one’s breathing.

When you are stressed or suddenly afraid, there is a change in your breathing, and this change can irritate your diaphragm. As a result, the muscle will start to spasm and you will start to hiccup. There are many emotional triggers that may cause hiccups to start.

For example, if something suddenly scares you, you may start hiccoughing. Or, if you are under intense stress, this may also be a trigger. You may even develop a case of hiccups if you become very happy or excited.

When you are under stress, your whole body will become tense and you will want to clench your muscles. It is no surprise that your diaphragm will start to spasm as well when experiencing particularly stressful circumstances. Hiccups that result from emotional factors tend to be very short-lived.

Calm Down

All you need to do to get rid of them is take a moment to calm down. Controlling your breathing is a good way to accomplish this. By taking long, deep breaths, you will not only be able to relax your diaphragm but your whole body as well.

Once you are no longer stressed or afraid, the hiccups should be gone. On the off chance that your hiccups don’t go away after calming down, there are still a few things you can do to solve the problem. Sometimes, getting scared again can make your hiccups vanish.

Others believe that chugging water or holding your breath may also help. This is not to mention that hiccup-stopping lollipops are also helpful.

What Causes Hiccups?

What causes hiccups exactly? There are actually many triggers for hiccups. One of the most common causes is eating too fast.

When you eat too fast, your stomach becomes distended with food and air and irritates the diaphragm as a result. Drinking too many carbonated drinks or too much alcohol also distends the stomach and can cause hiccups. Finally, emotional factors like stress and fear can trigger hiccups in some people.

If you want to know more about hiccups and the solution to hiccups, contact us here.