What are hiccups (singultus)?
A hiccup is a sudden, involuntary contraction (spasm) of the diaphragm muscle. When the muscle spasms, the vocal cords snap shut, producing the hiccup sound. Most cases of hiccups can be cured or resolved in a short time, and rarely are they a medical emergency. See your doctor if hiccups last more than three hours, or if they disturb your eating or sleeping habits.
What causes hiccups?
Most of the time, there is no obvious cause for hiccups. However, there are some common known causes of hiccups.
Why do you get hiccups? Some causes of hiccups include:
- Eating too quickly and swallowing air along with food.
- Eating too much (fatty or spicy foods, in particular) or drinking too much (carbonated beverages or alcohol) can distend the stomach and irritate the diaphragm, which can cause hiccups.
- Any disease or disorder that irritates the nerves that control the diaphragm (such as liver disease, pneumonia, or other lung disorders).
- Abdominal surgery can also irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm, causing hiccups.
- Strokes or brain tumors involving the brain stem, and some chronic medical disorders (such as renal failure) have also been reported to cause hiccups.
- Noxious fumes can also trigger hiccups.
- Sudden changes in temperature
- Fear or excitement
Some medications may also have hiccups as a side effect, for example:
- Medications for acid reflux
- Most benzodiazepines, including diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan)
- Levodopa, nicotine, and ondansetron (Zofran)
What are the symptoms of hiccups?
Sudden, forceful movement of the diaphragm, that causes the hiccup sound, is the only symptom of hiccups.
When should I contact my doctor for hiccups?
Most cases of hiccups resolve themselves in a short time and rarely are a medical emergency. See your doctor if hiccups last more than 3 hours, or if they disturb your eating or sleeping habits.
Seek medical attention if hiccups are associated with the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling as if your throat is going to close up
How do medical professionals diagnose the cause of hiccups?
Most of us know what a hiccup feels like and how to recognize it. In a medical setting, the diagnosis of hiccups is based on the physical evaluation. Blood tests or X-rays are usually not necessary unless your hiccups are a symptom of an associated medical condition.
Which specialties of doctors treat hiccups?
Hiccups generally go away on their own and do not require medical treatment, however, if hiccups last more than three hours or disturb eating or sleeping, you may see your primary care provider (PCP) such as a family practitioner, internist, or a child's pediatrician.
There may be many different specialists who treat hiccups depending on the underlying cause, for example:
- If the cause is a stroke or other neurological disorder, you may see a neurologist (a specialist in the nervous system and brain).
- If the cause is acid reflux, you may see a gastroenterologist (a specialist in disorders of the digestive system).
- If the cause is lung disease or pneumonia, you may see a pulmonologist (a specialist in disorders of the respiratory tract).
See SlideshowIs there medical treatment for hiccups?
Most hiccups will stop on their own. Home remedies are generally sufficient to resolve hiccups.
Treatment varies for persistent hiccups (lasting more than three hours), and you may need to contact your doctor.
- A "hiccup bout" is an episode of hiccups that lasts up to 48 hours
- "Persistent hiccups" continue for more than 48 hours, up to 1 month
- "Intractable hiccups" last longer than 1 month
A health care professional may prescribe medications for severe, chronic hiccups. Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is usually the first-line medication prescribed for hiccups. Other medications used to treat hiccups include baclofen (Lioresal, Gablofen), haloperidol (Haldol), and metoclopramide (Reglan).
Other muscle relaxants, sedatives, analgesics, and even stimulants have also been reported to help alleviate hiccup symptoms.
Phrenic nerve surgery (the nerve that controls the diaphragm) is a treatment of last resort. This treatment is rarely performed, and phrenic nerve surgery is used only in individuals with long-term hiccups who do not respond to other treatments.
How to get rid of hiccups at home
Home remedies for hiccups
There are numerous home cures for hiccups. You can try these methods at home to get rid of hiccups.
How do I make hiccups go away? Techniques that stimulate the nasopharynx and the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to the stomach, and can decrease hiccupping:
- Gargling with water
- Putting a cold compress on your face
- Breathing into a paper bag
- Blowing up a balloon
- Drink a glass of water quickly
- Have someone frighten you
- Pull hard on your tongue
- Bite on a lemon
- Drink from the far side of a glass
- Taking deep, slow breaths
- Sitting down and pulling your knees to your chest for one minute
- Use smelling salts
- Place a one-half teaspoon of dry sugar on the back of your tongue (this process can be repeated three times at two-minute intervals -- use corn syrup, not sugar, for young children)
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How can hiccups in infants and babies be stopped?
As in adults, hiccups in newborns, infants, and babies are common and generally of no concern. If hiccups occur during feeding, stop feeding until the hiccups go away. Usually, the hiccups will "go away" in an infant or baby.
How to get rid of baby hiccups
You may try changing the position of the infant or baby; try to get your baby to burp, or calm him/her down to cure the hiccups. Sometimes resuming feeding will stop the hiccups. If your baby frequently has hiccups during feedings, feed your baby when he or she is already relaxed and is not overly hungry yet.
Here are a few more strategies on how to control hiccups in a newborn:
- Make sure the baby is latching on correctly when feeding.
- Feed in an upright position.
- Use smaller, more frequent feedings based on your baby’s needs.
- Burp your baby after feeding to help release any trapped air.
- Hold the baby upright after feeding.
- Gently pat or rub your baby's back to help them relax.
If your child's hiccups worsen or they seem to upset him, contact your pediatrician.
What is the prognosis of hiccups?
Hiccups are usually harmless and last for a short duration. There is little evidence about the beneficial role of hiccups.
Studies report that hiccups may occur even when the baby is in the womb. Hiccups while in utero (in the mother's womb) may help exercise the muscles used for breathing.
Are there any complications of hiccups?
Because most cases of hiccups resolve themselves either spontaneously or with self-administered treatment, complications are extremely rare.
- In severe and persistent cases, where hiccups disturb eating and sleeping patterns, weight loss, or sleep disturbances may occur.
- Rarely, cardiac arrhythmias and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD and GER) have been noted in severe cases of hiccups.
Prolonged hiccups may lead to several ill-effects such as:
- Disturbed sleep
- Difficulty eating and drinking
- Difficulty speaking
- Pharyngitis (sore throat)
- Stress, anxiety, or disturbed mood
- Convulsive syncope (fainting)
Prolonged hiccups can interfere with eating or drinking, leading to dehydration, malnutrition, and weight loss. Additionally, they may interfere with recovery or wound healing after surgery.
Frequently asked questions
- What are hiccups a symptom of? Hiccups are usually a benign reflex caused by involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. They are often triggered by overeating, swallowing air, or sudden temperature changes. Persistent or severe hiccups can sometimes indicate underlying issues such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or neurological conditions.
- What is the treatment for continuous hiccups? Treatment for continuous hiccups often involves addressing the underlying cause, using medications such as muscle relaxants, or antacids if GERD is involved. For persistent hiccups lasting more than 48 hours, a health care provider might recommend further evaluation and treatment options such as nerve stimulation or specific medications.
- Why does a hiccup happen? Hiccups happen when the diaphragm involuntarily contracts due to irritation of the nerves that control it. This sudden contraction causes the vocal cords to close briefly, producing the distinctive “hic” sound. This reflex can be triggered by various factors such as eating too quickly, consuming carbonated drinks, or experiencing sudden temperature changes.
- What can I press to stop hiccups? Pressing the palm of your hand against your diaphragm, located just below the rib cage, may help stop hiccups by stimulating the diaphragm and potentially disrupting the reflex. Another method involves gently pressing your eyeballs with your eyelids closed, which can also help interrupt the hiccup reflex.
- How long can hiccups last? Hiccups typically last a few minutes to a couple of hours, but they can persist longer in some cases. Chronic hiccups, lasting more than 48 hours, may indicate an underlying medical condition and should be evaluated by a health care professional.
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Wilkes, G. "Hiccups." Medscape.
Here’s What to Do When Your Baby Has the Hiccups. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed August 29, 2024. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/heres-what-to-do-when-your-baby-has-the-hiccups
Hiccups. Mayo Clinic. Accessed August 29, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiccups/symptoms-causes/syc-20352613
Hiccups. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed August 29, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17672-hiccups
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