Why Do We Hiccup? Causes And Treatments - Medical News Today

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhy do we hiccup?

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Tom Rush — Updated on October 17, 2024

What are hiccups?
Why hiccups occur
Persistent hiccups
Conditions
Home remedies
When to see a doctor
Treatment

Hiccups are uncontrollable muscular spasms of the diaphragm. These spasms send sudden rushes of air into the lungs, causing rapid closing of the glottis and the distinctive ‘hic’ sound.

The glottis is the opening between vocal folds in the larynx–a hollow tube in the middle of the neck. Most people experience hiccups from time to time. They can be uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing, but they are usually short-lived.

Recurring or long-term hiccups can indicate a serious underlying cause, such as neurological damage. For this reason, people should seek medical help if they last for more than 48 hours.

In this article, learn more about what causes hiccups, how to stop them, and when to see a doctor.

What are hiccups?

A person drinking soda from a glass bottle, silhouetted against the sun — WIN-Initiative/Neleman/Getty Images

The Latin name for hiccups is “singultus.” It comes from the word “singult,” meaning “to catch one’s breath while sobbing.”

When a person breathes in, they use the intercostal muscles (between the ribs) and the diaphragm (a dome-shaped sheet of muscle below the lungs).

Usually, when a person takes a breath, the diaphragm pulls down to draw air into the lungs. As they breathe out, the diaphragm pushes up to expel the air.

When a person has hiccups, the diaphragm contracts and pulls down, drawing in air between breaths. Immediately after this, the windpipe closes for a moment to prevent more air from entering the lungs. This produces the characteristic “hic” sound.

Why do hiccups occur?

There is often no clear reason for getting the hiccups. However, there are several common triggers that people may find cause hiccups.

After eating or drinking

Hiccups often come after eating or drinking too much or too quickly. The stomach, which is directly below the diaphragm, becomes distended. This irritates the diaphragm and causes it to contract, as it does when we breathe in.

Other digestion-related activities that may trigger hiccups include:

gulping soda
heartburn or acid reflux
consuming alcohol
smoking a lot
swallowing air, including during hyperventilation

Emotional triggers

Sometimes, hiccups occur due to a disturbance in the nerve pathways that lead from the brain to the muscles between the ribs.

This can cause short-term hiccups following:

an emotional shock or stress
excitement
an abrupt change in temperature, such as by taking a cold shower

Other reasons

Hiccups can also occur when a person:

overstretches their neck, such as when shaving
takes certain medications
needs anesthetics during surgery

Medications that can lead to hiccups include:

some chemotherapy drugs
benzodiazepines for anxiety
opioid pain relief medication

Persistent hiccups

“Persistent” hiccups are those that last for longer than 48 hours.

Sometimes, an episode of hiccups can last for longer than 2 months. Doctors call these “intractable” hiccups.

This could be due to a problem with:

the brain or spinal cord
the structures around the diaphragm or chest wall
blood composition, such as abnormal blood calcium levels
the stomach, if it presses on the diaphragm

Conditions that involve hiccups

Hiccups can be a symptom of an underlying health problem. For example, they are a common occurrence in gastroesophageal disease. Some people with cancer might also experience frequent hiccups. This may be due to their symptoms or some aspects of their treatment plan.

A wide range of other conditions can increase the likelihood of hiccups, including:

Infections: Examples include shingles, herpes simplex, and malaria.
Neurological conditions: Examples include aneurysm, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Ear, nose, and throat problems: Examples include cough, having a hair in the throat, and recent intubation.
Respiratory conditions: Examples include pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis.
Metabolic disorders: Examples include diabetes, uremia, and hyponatremia.
Cardiovascular disorders: Examples include heart attack and pericarditis.

Complications

Persistent hiccups can lead to:

embarrassment and a reduced quality of life
nausea
weight loss
sleep loss
fatigue
dehydration
sadness, anxiety, and depression

Both the causes and the impact of long-term hiccups can be severe.

Learn more about what hiccups are and why they happen here.

Home remedies for hiccups

People use various remedies for curing short-term hiccups. People may find that some of the below help, but these are not fool-proof treatments.

Hold the breath for a short time.
Pull the knees up to the chest and lean forward.
Breathe into a paper bag.
Take a few sips of ice cold water.
Have a taste of lemon or vinegar.
Swallow a little granulated sugar.
Drink a glass of water.
Hold a cold compress to the face.
Experience a sudden fright.

Learn more about how to get rid of hiccups here.

Things to avoid

The following methods are not suitable for stopping hiccups:

consuming alcohol, hot drinks, or sodas
chewing gum or smoking
eating spicy food
eating food quickly
eating something hot followed by something cold

These techniques may make hiccups worse.

When to see a doctor

People should see a doctor if:

hiccups last for longer than 48 hours
they happen often
they affect a person’s comfort and quality of life

Treatment

If a person has persistent hiccups, a doctor may:

identify and treat any underlying causes
change their medication
prescribe medication to relax the muscles
treat symptoms, such as by prescribing medication to reduce feelings of nausea

Various drugs can help relieve hiccups. For example, injecting 25–50 milligrams of a drug called chlorpromazine has proven effective in 80% of cases.

In severe cases, a doctor may even recommend surgery.

Ear, Nose, and Throat

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Cole JA, et al. (2023).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538225/
Hiccups (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiccups/
Hiccups and cancer. (n.d.).https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/hiccups-and-cancer

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Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Tom Rush — Updated on October 17, 2024

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