Hiccups are caused by an involuntary movement of the diaphragm.. It occurs when this muscle in the abdomen contracts suddenly during normal breathing. After each contraction the vocal cords also close, hence the characteristic “hip” sound.
How to get rid of hiccups is a question that many people ask themselves, and the good thing is that there are effective tricks to avoid it. Avoid eating in abundance and at high speed, as well as carbonated and alcoholic beverages. But there is much more to know and it is explained in this article.
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How to get rid of hiccups? 10 effective tricks to fight it
Hiccups may be accompanied by chest or abdominal pain.. It is for this reason that it can become really annoying. Anyway, the important thing is to know how to get rid of hiccups, and there are effective tricks to combat it.
Breathing normally again is possible if you know how to apply some of the most recommended tips. Thus, it is possible to forget about the discomfort or even the pain it can cause.
1. Drink water
Drinking water or juice is one of the best known tricks to get rid of hiccups.. But it is not only about drinking water as we normally do; you have to try to drink a glass of water or juice as fast as you can.
For this trick to be efficient you have to drink the water without breathing through your nose and do it quickly. It may also work to gargle three or four times before starting to drink the water.
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2. Breathing exercise
With this breathing exercise the hiccups will almost certainly go away.. When hiccups start and it is impossible to stop them, one wonders how to get rid of hiccups quickly. This exercise is simple, and is based on holding your breath so that the diaphragm regulates its function.
To perform it, stretch your neck backwards and hold your breath while mentally counting from 1 to 10. Then exhale and return to normal posture.
3. Eating sugar
Eating sugar can be an effective way to get rid of hiccups.. It is not very complex, but care must be taken when doing it. It is effective if done as explained below.
The idea is that you have to swallow a spoonful of sugar without sucking it. That is to say that the sugar must pass directly down our throat, without sucking or chewing. This may be easier if we tilt our head back a little and let the sugar fall.
4. Holding your breath
Holding your breath helps the diaphragm to restore its function.. It is one of the simplest tricks, although for some people holding their breath for a long time becomes complicated.
For it to be efficient, you have to stand or sit in a comfortable position. Simply hold your breath for as long as possible. It may help to drink 10 sips of water afterwards.
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5. Breathing into a paper bag
Another trick to combat hiccups is to breathe into a paper bag.. This is another way to control your breathing so that the hiccups disappear. You need a small paper bag (or in its defect a cup can also serve).
You have to take deep breaths covering your mouth and nose with the bag. This will cause the carbon dioxide in the blood to increase and the body will begin to react to get rid of it, forgetting the hiccups.
6. Plugging your ears
Plugging your ears works if you do it at the first sign of hiccups.. When you feel the first contraction of the diaphragm it can work to immediately plug your ears. About 30 seconds is enough.
You can combine this trick with holding your breath. Thus, while covering your ears with your fingers for about half a minute, you should try to hold your breath for the same time.
7. Sucking on a lemon
Sucking on a lemon works thanks to the acids that this fruit has.. Cut a slice of lemon and suck it to drink only its juice. The acid of the lemon allows this reaction of the diaphragm to disappear.
Some people recommend eating the whole slice instead of just sucking the juice. It may also work, but the taste may even be unpleasant for those who do not enjoy acidic or strong flavors.
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8. Breathing without breathing
The trick of “breathing without breathing” helps hiccups go away in a few minutes.. It consists of making a single deep exhalation and then covering your nose and mouth and moving your diaphragm as if you were breathing normally.
This forces the diaphragm to regulate its rhythm, and usually after a few seconds the hiccups disappear. It may be difficult for those who find it hard to hold their breath, but doing this exercise is really not complicated.
9. A pencil and a glass of water
With a pencil and a glass of water we have an efficient trick to get rid of hiccups.. This way of getting rid of hiccups does not require too much effort, but it can be a little complicated. Simply drink a glass of water while holding a pencil in your mouth.
You have to find a comfortable position, bite the pencil horizontally and hold it there and then drink a glass of water without stopping biting the pencil. Try to do it as fast as possible.
10. Honey and castor
An effective trick to remove the hiccups is with honey and castor oil.. For this trick you have to prepare two teaspoons of honey and combine them with two teaspoons of castor oil. Then you have to mix until they are well combined and then ingest.
The thick texture of honey and castor oil helps a lot. For some reason, when reaching the throat, the diaphragm contractions are softened and finally regulated, which makes the hiccups disappear completely.
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