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Although hiccups typically resolve in time, people may try a variety of unusual and creative ways to get rid of them. The medical term for hiccups is singultus. In terms of physiology, a hiccup occurs when the diaphragm and intercostal muscles suddenly contract involuntarily. The larynx, or voice box, contracts at the same time, and the vocal folds close, effectively blocking the flow of air. This article discusses the causes of hiccups and how to treat and prevent them. It also looks at chronic hiccups and hiccups in infants and answers some frequently asked questions. Fast facts on hiccups Eating or drinking too quickly often causes hiccups.They usually resolve on their own with no medical intervention.Hiccups affect everyone, from babies to older adults. Causes Share on PinterestOlga Kozicka/StocksyThe exact cause of hiccups is not always known. However, any condition that irritates the diaphragmatic nerves can potentially lead to hiccups. Many other factors can also play a role. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, possible triggers of hiccups include:eating spicy foodsdrinking hot liquidseating a large mealdrinking carbonated beverageseating too fasttaking certain medications Another possible trigger is experiencing strong emotions or stress. Treatment Share on PinterestInfographic by Yaja’ MulcareIn the vast majority of cases, hiccups go away on their own within a few minutes. Treating any underlying conditions that cause hiccups may help reduce their frequency. Below are some tips and home remedies for dealing with a bout of hiccups. Breathing and posture Regardless of where they are when hiccups begin, people can try:breathing in and holding the breath for about 10 seconds, then inhaling two more times before exhalingbreathing into a paper bag but taking care not to cover the head with the bagbringing the knees to the chest and hugging themcompressing the chest gently by leaning forward Eating and drinking Several suggested techniques for stopping hiccups involve food and drink. They include:gargling with iced waterplacing a couple of drops of vinegar in the mouthplacing some granulated sugar on the tongue and then swallowing itsipping very cold water slowlybiting a slice of lemon Pressure points Other techniques that might work for some people include:pulling gently on the tongue, which may stimulate the vagus nerve and ease diaphragm spasmspressing lightly on the diaphragmplacing gentle pressure on each side of the nose while swallowing Medications If hiccups are persistent or severe and other treatments have proven ineffective, a doctor may prescribe medication. They may consider this the best option if a person is:losing weight as a result of being unable to eat properly sleeping abnormally or experiencing insomniaexperiencing symptoms of depression The doctor may recommend different medications, including:baclofen (Lioresal), a muscle relaxantchlorpromazine (Largactil), an antipsychotic medicationgabapentin (Neurontin), which doctors initially used to treat epilepsyhaloperidol (Haldol), an antipsychotic medicationmetoclopramide (Reglan), a medication that can also treat nausea Prevention Certain triggers cause most cases of hiccups. People may be able to reduce the likelihood of hiccups occurring by avoiding the following:eating or drinking too quicklydrinking alcohol or carbonated beverageseating spicy foodssmokingsuddenly changing the temperature in the stomach by eating or drinking something very cold after something very hot, or vice versachewing gum Hiccups sometimes occur due to an underlying medical condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In such cases, a person may be able to prevent hiccups by treating the condition that causes them. Infants Babies often get hiccups, which are a standard part of their development and do not typically disturb them. However, hiccups can sometimes disrupt feeding and sleeping. If hiccups occur during a feeding, it may be possible to get rid of them by:changing the baby’s positionburping the babycalming the baby Frequent hiccups in a baby could be a sign of a medical condition. Parents or caregivers should speak with a doctor if hiccups occur often or upset the baby. World record and chronic hiccups According to the Guinness World Records, Charles Osborne is the person who has had the longest attack of hiccups. He hiccupped continuously for 68 years, from 1922 to 1990. However, doctors define hiccups that last more than 48 hours as chronic or persistent. Hiccups are intractable if they remain present for more than a month. Both chronic and intractable hiccups may have an adverse effect on a person’s quality of life. Chronic hiccups can lead to exhaustion, insomnia, and, if they prevent a person from eating, weight loss. Chronic hiccups can have a wide variety of causes, including:neurological conditionstumors or lesionsmetabolic abnormalitiesgastrointestinal tract disorders Outlook In most cases, hiccups resolve on their own within a short period. However, they may sometimes persist and affect sleep, eating, or other aspects of everyday life. Hiccups rarely require medical treatment, but a doctor may prescribe medications if they are severe, persistent, and unresponsive to other treatments. Frequently asked questions Below, we answer some of the most common questions about hiccups. How do you get rid of hiccups instantly There is no guaranteed way to get rid of hiccups instantly. However, the following methods may help:breathing into a paper bag holding the breath slowly drinking or sipping cold waterbiting a slice of lemontasting a drop of vinegarswallowing granulated sugar What is the main cause of hiccups Various triggers can cause hiccups. The most common cause is bloating of the stomach due to drinking a carbonated drink or eating a large meal. Is hiccupping dangerous Hiccupping in itself is not dangerous. However, if hiccups become chronic, they may affect a person’s quality of life. Are frequent hiccups a sign of something serious In some cases, frequent hiccups may indicate an underlying health condition. Persistent hiccups have associations with various conditions, including:tumorspancreatitishepatitisliver cancer Summary Hiccups typically only last a few minutes before disappearing on their own. However, there are many techniques that may help get rid of hiccups. Methods to try include holding the breath, sipping very cold water, and biting a slice of lemon. In some cases, hiccups may become chronic and last longer than 48 hours. Chronic or frequent hiccups may require further evaluation by a healthcare professional to determine the cause. Last medically reviewed on May 30, 2022RespiratoryEar, Nose, and Throat 8 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Cole, J. A., et al. (2021). Singultus.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538225/Hiccups. (2020).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiccups/Hiccups, chronic. (2005).https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hiccups-chronic/Kohse, E. K., et al. (2017). Chronic hiccups: An underestimated problem. https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/fulltext/2017/10000/chronic_hiccups__an_underestimated_problem.17.aspxLoyola University Health System. (2018). Intractable hiccups may be more common than we think [Press release].https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180724174317.htmOzturk, O., et al. (2017). Treatment of resistant idiopathic hiccups with pulse radio frequency on phrenic nerve and gabapentin: A case report. http://www.njcponline.com/article.asp?issn=1119-3077;year=2017;volume=20;issue=7;spage=910;epage=913;aulast=OzturkPolito, N. B., et al. (2017). Pharmacologic interventions for intractable and persistent hiccups: A systematic review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0736467917304791Steger, M., et al. (2015). Systemic review: The pathogenesis and pharmacological treatment of hiccups.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apt.13374/fullFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — By Tim Newman and MaryAnn De Pietro, CRT — Updated on May 30, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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