Hiccupops

What Are Hiccups?

Hiccups result from irritation to nerves in the abdomen, gastrointestinal tract, and the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is a large, horizontal muscle that helps you to breathe. When you breathe in, your lungs expand, and the diaphragm expands downwards so your lungs have more space to inflate. When you breathe out and your lungs shrink, the diaphragm curves upwards to support the lungs.

When you get hiccups, irritation to nerves in the abdomen disrupt the normal breathing pattern described above, causing the diaphragm to spasm.

As the diaphragm contracts and air rushes into the lungs, the glottis–a flap of cartilage at the back of the throat–closes. The air rushing in hits the glottis, producing a “hic” sound, hence the name hiccups.

What Causes or Triggers Hiccups

Casual Hiccups

Some of the things that may trigger occasional, everyday hiccups may include:

• Spicy or hot foods
• Eating too fast
• Stress
• Smoking
• Indigestion
• Too much alcohol
• Sodas or other carbonated beverages
• Nicotine gum

Clinically Significant Hiccups

Sometimes, hiccups last for an abnormally long time, generally considered to be over 48 hours. If this happens to you, be sure to contact your doctor as this can sometimes signal an underlying medical condition.

Clinically significant hiccups can also be a side effect of medical conditions such as cancer or kidney disease. Damage to the part of the brain that controls respiration can also be a cause of clinically significant hiccups.

Other triggers may include certain epilepsy medications and chest or abdominal surgeries.

Myths About Hiccups

Many of the common myths offer creative theories as to why people get hiccups and unfounded ideas on how to stop them. Here are a few of our favorites:

Hold Your Breath

The theory behind this myth is that holding your breath can interrupt hiccups, eventually stopping them. Holding your breath is an exercise that sometimes works–but not in all instances.

Make no mistake, this is no foolproof method.

Scare Yourself Speechless

Or get someone else to do it. The mechanisms behind this myth are the same concept as those behind holding your breath.

Some people believe that a sudden jolt of fear can stop hiccups. Just as with holding your breath, it can sometimes work on a whim, but is far from a guaranteed solution.

A Spoonful of Sugar

Helps the medicine go down, according to the famous song. However, some believe it can also aid in eliminating hiccups.

While some people swear by this method, there is no scientific basis that shows that this works. It also would be extremely inconvenient to carry a spoonful of sugar with you wherever you go.

Drink Water

Drinking water is one of the most popular myths for getting rid of hiccups.

Some people take this myth a step further, and opt to drink a glass of water upside down. You might have to figure out how to approach this before you actually try it. There isn’t much science behind drinking water to stop hiccups, so it’s unlikely to help no matter which direction you drink the water in.

Be Nice, It’s Nice!

Is someone gossiping or talking negatively about you? There’s one way to know: you’ll get hiccups. This is what some people really believe.

We don’t need to explain that this isn’t based in science. Of course, this old wives’ tale is far from the truth.

You’re Truly Liked

Someone turned the myth above on its head and spread that you can get hiccups when someone says something nice about you. If this were true, it would be enough to make you want them not to.

It would also mean that some people would have hiccups all day. Think of well-loved celebrities. Thankfully, this myth isn’t true.

Skip a Beat

Does your heart skip a beat every time you hiccup? If true, then every diaphragm contraction would stop your heart. That’s what some people really believe.

However, one has nothing to do with the other. This would make having hiccups even scarier!

Tickle the Roof of Your Mouth

Just thinking about this may seem awkward, but some people believe it will help stop hiccups. Proponents of this myth often suggest using a cotton swab to tickle the roof of your mouth.

While stimulating the roof of your mouth might help stop hiccups, this method likely would not do the trick on its own.

The List Goes On

Every day, there seems to be a new theory put forth surrounding how to stop hiccups. They include breathing into a paper bag, or leaning forward while you pull your knees into your chest.

Many of these myths claim to stop hiccups in under 10 seconds. Unfortunately, this is almost never the case.

A Scientific Solution

However, there is one method that scientifically stops hiccups–Hiccupops! Hiccupops contain ingredients that return your breathing to normal by working to reset the hiccup reflex. They work in just a few seconds, plus they’re super convenient and tasty!

This is no myth–really, all you have to do is suck on a Hiccupop. Click here to order online or find us in a CVS near you!

What You Need to Know About Hiccups

Hiccups are the result of involuntary contractions of your diaphragm, a muscle that rests horizontally under your lungs that helps facilitate breathing. When you breathe out and your lungs empty themselves of air, the diaphragm bends upwards against your lungs to support them; when you breathe in and your lungs expand and fill with air, the diaphragm extends downwards. Many nerves run through the diaphragm, including the phrenic nerve. 

The phrenic nerve is important for controlling your breathing. When you get hiccups, it is the result of irritation to nerves in your throat, mouth, or abdomen. This irritation can cause a group of nerves (including the phrenic nerve) to fire, which in turn causes your diaphragm to spasm. As you hiccup, the diaphragm contracts and air rushes into the lungs. At the same time, the glottis, a flap of cartilage at the back of the throat, closes. The air rushing in hits the glottis, producing a “hic” sound, hence the name hiccups.

Fortunately, there are quite a few things you can do to halt this process and get rid of your hiccups. Some methods are far more effective than others. Keep reading and learn more about the best ways to get rid of hiccups.

Breathing, Posture, and More Old Wives’ Tales

In scouring the Internet in search of the best way to get rid of hiccups, you are sure to come across a plethora of old wives’ tales and home remedies. While some options may work some of the time, the vast majority of these suggestions are purely anecdotal and have no basis in science or medicine.

Popular solutions include: adjusting posture while taking deep, slow breaths, chugging water upside down, or swallowing a spoonful of peanut butter. While these things would certainly appear awkward to do in public, some are even counterintuitive. For example, chugging water too quickly may actually introduce more air into the stomach, which could worsen your hiccups.

We’ve created an easy, convenient, affordable, and fast-acting solution that fits right in your pocket: Hiccupops. Hiccupops are not your average piece of candy–our lollipops are formulated to stop hiccups in seconds and are backed by years of research. All you need to do is pop one into your mouth, and after a few seconds, you’re good to go! It’s really that simple.

Hiccupops are the first science-based solution for hiccups, which makes them a far better option than other home remedies and myths. While they are the best way to get rid of everyday hiccups, if your hiccups last for more than 48 hours you should consult a doctor. Otherwise, visit our online store to place your order today or find us in a CVS near you!

Science-Based Relief for Hiccups

We’ve created an easy, convenient, affordable, and fast-acting solution that fits right in your pocket: Hiccupops. Hiccupops are not your average piece of candy–our lollipops are formulated to stop hiccups in seconds and are backed by years of research. All you need to do is pop one into your mouth, and after a few seconds, you’re good to go! It’s really that simple.

Hiccupops are the first science-based solution for hiccups, which makes them a far better option than other home remedies and myths. While they are the best way to get rid of everyday hiccups, if your hiccups last for more than 48 hours you should consult a doctor. Otherwise, visit our online store to place your order today or find us in a CVS near you!

Understanding Hiccups

Of course, you can get hiccups whether or not you drink alcohol.

Regardless of whether you eat spicy foods, drink alcohol, or eat too much, hiccups result from irritation to nerves in the abdomen, gastrointestinal tract, and the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large, horizontal muscle that stretches beneath your lungs and helps you to breathe. When you breathe in, your lungs expand, and the diaphragm expands downwards so your lungs have more space to inflate. When you breathe out and your lungs shrink, the diaphragm curves up inward to support the lungs.

When you get hiccups, irritation to nerves in the abdomen disrupt normal breathing patterns. As a result, the diaphragm will start to spasm.

As you hiccup, the diaphragm contracts and air rushes into the lungs. At the same time, the glottis, a flap of cartilage at the back of the throat, closes. The air rushing in hits the glottis, producing a “hic” sound, hence the name hiccups.

Does Alcohol Cause Hiccups?

If you are wondering why alcohol causes hiccups, a contributing factor is that alcohol tends to irritate nerves in the gastrointestinal tract. This irritation can trigger the body into a hiccup breathing pattern, where the diaphragm continues to contract involuntarily. The air in carbonated beverages can cause a similar effect.

Acid Reflux

When drinking alcohol, you may experience acid reflux, a phenomenon where acid from the stomach splashes up into your esophagus, causing a burning sensation.

Too much alcohol consumption can lead to acid reflux and other inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which irritates nerves in the abdomen. Naturally, you will be more likely to get hiccups as a result of this irritation. It may also be especially difficult to get rid of hiccups in the case of acid reflux because of the repeated irritation to nerves involved in the hiccup reflex.

How to Get Rid of Hiccups from Drinking

Hiccups have long been subjected to pseudoscience and old wive’s tales–-chugging a glass of water upside down, eating spoonfuls of sticky peanut butter, you get the gist. While these approaches may work for some people sometimes, they are not a one-size-fits-all approach.

That’s why we made Hiccupops. Our lollipops are backed by science to stop hiccups within seconds, making them a convenient, delicious solution–especially for hiccups induced by alcohol. When you get hiccups while drinking, you’re usually in a social setting like a bar or restaurant, where you don’t have a jar of peanut butter on you, nor is it appropriate to start drinking water upside down. If you’re looking for how to fix alcohol hiccups, Hiccupops are quick, easy to use, and convenient.

1. Stick Your Tongue Out

Sometimes, hiccups set in when you least expect them. They could happen when you are driving or working at your office desk. You can stick your tongue out for several seconds to stop the spasms if no one is looking.

While this might seem strange, it is a popular exercise among actors and singers. Its main job is to stimulate the vocal cords. However, it stops hiccups instantly.

Sticking your tongue out allows you to breathe smoothly. And this, in turn, calms the spasms that cause your hiccups.

2. Pop a Lollipop

Sticking your tongue out while everybody is watching can be tremendously discomforting. If you cannot do it, you will love the following remedy.

If you are experiencing occasional hiccups, there are many creative ways to stop them—for instance, specially formulated lollipops known as hiccupops help.

At first glance, this lollipop is like any other type of candy, but it is much more than that. The science behind it is straightforward. Typically, these annoying spasms will occur when specific nerves in your throat, mouth, are abdomen are irritated.

As a result, your brain sends a response signal to your diaphragm, telling it to contract. Hence the ‘hic’ reaction. Hiccupops have unique ingredients that restore your breathing to normal and reset that involuntary reflex.

The best part is that this lollipop stops hiccups in a few seconds while you enjoy the delicious taste of this lollipop.

3. Plug your Ears

Plugging your ears is another effective way to stop hiccups. When you get them, carefully stick a finger in each of your ears. Ensure that you do it simultaneously.

If you are uncomfortable plugging your ears, gently squeeze the soft part of your ear behind the earlobes. The objective is to signal the vagus nerve connected to your diaphragm. Once it receives the message, it relaxes, and the hiccups stop.

4. Gulp Some Water

A few sips of water from glass will quickly stop hiccups. It is a technique that works for both adults and children. So, if you are wondering how to stop hiccups fast, gulp some water in quick succession.

When swallowing the water, the rhythmic movement of your esophagus will quash the spasms in the diaphragm. If this technique is not working, take it a notch further by covering the top of your glass with a paper towel.

Drinking through the paper towel will make the challenge more difficult for your diaphragm. And as you struggle to force the water through the extra layer, your diaphragm will work harder. The good news is that this will ultimately end the hiccups.

Besides fresh water, a gripe of water can help ease baby hiccups. Usually, it is marketed as a treatment for tummy problems and colic, but parents can use it to stop hiccups.

5. Take Some Honey

Stir a spoonful of honey in some warm water. Put it behind the tongue and swallow it gently. The sweetness of the honey arouses the vagus nerve, which ends the hiccups.

If you don’t have access to honey, swallowing something sweet works similarly. For example, a spoonful of sugar could stop hiccups. Part of this is because the grains of sugar will irritate your esophagus.

Once this happens, the phrenic nerves may reset and stop the hiccups.

6. Drink Water with a Straw

This remedy combines two techniques that we previously discussed separately. It would be best to plug your ears with your fingers to do it successfully. Follow this up with drinking water with a straw.

Besides swallowing the water in a steady flow, you will squeeze the vagus nerve and stop the hiccups.

7. Breath into a Paper Bag

When looking for how to stop hiccupping, the chances are that you have come across the paper bag strategy. It revolves around breathing into a medium-sized paper bag. But in case you feel lightheaded, stop it immediately.

Breathing into a paper bag deeply and slowly raises your carbon dioxide levels. As a result, your diaphragm contracts deeply to draw in more oxygen. While this happens, the rhythm stops the hiccups.

Scientifically, this technique is yet to be proven, but people have been using it for a long time.

8. Suck on a Piece of Lemon

If you have lemons in the house, you can use them to stop hiccups. Take a lemon wedge, deep it in a non-alcoholic bitter, and suck on it. If you don’t have a non-alcoholic bitter, don’t sweat it because the lemon wedge will work perfectly.

9. Burp More Frequently

While most of these techniques are ideal for adults, you may wonder how to stop baby hiccups. If your baby tends to get these spasms frequently, burp your baby a couple of times when feeding. Usually, this strategy prevents hiccups from striking your little one.

However, if your baby is already experiencing hiccups, gently pat them on the back. Additionally, allowing them to suck on a pacifier could provide much-needed relief.

10. Hug Your Knees

As strange as it may sound, hugging your knees will relieve you from hiccups. Find a comfortable sitting position and fold your knees back towards your chest.

Hold your knees against your chest for a couple of minutes, and the hiccups will stop. When your knees tend to compress on your chest, the involuntary spasms emanating from your diaphragm will stop.

Common Triggers for Hiccups

Although there is no ultimate cause for hiccups, these spasms have a common trigger. These include;

• Eating quickly or excessively
• Feeling overwhelmingly excited or nervous
• Drinking alcohol or carbonated drinks excessively
• A sudden temperature change
• Stress

Hiccups will not automatically strike if you are in any of these situations. Moreso, research on the causes exact causes of these spasms is inconclusive.

How to Prevent Hiccups

The best way to deal with such a condition is to learn how to prevent it—changing when or how eating or drinking can play an integral role in preventing these spasms.

For instance, if you drink over five cans of carbonated drinks in a day, you will likely experience hiccups. The same case applies to drinking too much coffee before 9 am. Eating a lot of food ago could also be why hiccups keep striking.

The bottom line is that if your eating and drinking patterns are off, you might get hiccups more. And with a little bit of habit change, you could keep hiccups at bay.

When to See a Doctor

Hiccups normally resolve on their own after a while. If they persist for over 48 hours, that could signify an underlying health issue, and you should see a doctor. Also, if your hiccups tend to strike frequently, consult your GP.

Interesting Facts About Hiccups

Women are less likely to get hiccups than men. However, the reasons behind it are not clear—Nonetheless, infants hiccup more than adults.

What’s more intriguing is that hiccups also strike fetuses. Mothers who have had their babies biologically may sometimes remember this feeling.

The most extended hiccup lasted for a staggering 68 years. However, this was a rare case of a man named Charles Osborne. Moreover, hiccups only last for about 5 minutes; anything beyond it could signal other health problems.

Hiccups not only strike humans. Other mammals also experience these spasms. But humans get hiccups more than all the other mammals.

Most hiccups home remedies are not bullet proof. You might try a couple and fail miserably. If a particular strategy doesn’t work for you, move on to the next. You might eventually get something that works.

No one has produced adequate evidence as to why hiccups strike. You will most likely hear strange theories such as hiccups were meant for our gills. Or these spasms are a method that fetuses use to practice breathing once they are born.

Unfortunately, non of these theories are proven.

Stop Hiccups Instantly

As you can see, there are multiple remedies to stop hiccups. The only challenge is that some of these remedies may not augur well with you. In other circumstances, you might not be able to use some of these strategies.

Moreover, controlling baby hiccups can be a frustrating affair. Most children might be uncomfortable with some of the techniques listed above.

The good news is that hiccupops work all the time. And these lollipops come in different flavors and colors. If you are looking for a fun and practical way to stop hiccups, buy hiccupops today, and you will not regret it.