Hiccups Knowledge

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!

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:

1. The longest hiccup streak lasted 68 years
2. The medical term for hiccups is singultus
3. Hiccups occur in almost all mammals
4. Hiccups occur more often in infants than in other humans
5. Fetuses can hiccup in the womb
6. Scientists don’t know why we have hiccups (but there are plenty of theories)
7. Hiccups can happen up to 60 times per minute
8. People in Medieval Times referred to hiccups as “hockets”
9. The more you hiccup, the more likely you’re going to hiccup again
10. 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.

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.

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.