Page 103 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

COMMON CONDITIONS 101

CHEST AND ABDOMINAL PROBLEMS

Hiccups

Everyone has an occasional bout of hiccups – short, sharp intakes of air caused by repeated, involuntary
spasms of your diaphragm. Although they often occur for no apparent reason, common causes include
overeating or eating too fast; eating spicy, very hot, or very cold food; drinking carbonated drinks; or drinking
alcohol. Smoking heavily, or emotional factors such as nervousness or shock, can bring on an attack of hiccups, as
can a sudden change in temperature. Hiccups usually last for no more than a few minutes. Bouts that last
more than a few days can be a sign of illness, and may also lead to difficulty in sleeping and weight loss.

What you can do yourself
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Attacks of hiccups disappear of their own accord
but if you need to get rid of them quickly, try some Rebreathing Hold a brown paper bag (not a
of these home remedies. plastic bag) over your nose and mouth, and breathe
in and out of it forcefully 10 times. Exhaled air
● Hold your breath for as long as you can, or
contains higher levels of carbon dioxide than normal,
breathe in and out quickly. Alternatively, breathe and rebreathing it from a bag may help relax your
into a paper bag (see PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE, right). diaphragm and stop the hiccups.
● Sip iced water, or chew and swallow pieces
Breathing into a bag
of crushed ice, for 10–15 minutes.
As you exhale, blow
● Eat a dry piece of bread or a cracker. up the bag forcefully.
Keeping the bag over
● Place a teaspoonful of granulated sugar on the
your nose, breathe in
back of your tongue and swallow it. deeply. Do this 10 times.
● Suck on a slice of lemon soaked in Angostura
bitters, or sip a small amount of vinegar.
● Pull hard on your tongue, or touch the back
of your tongue with your finger or a cotton ball.
● Sit on a chair or on the floor and pull your knees
up toward your chest while leaning forward.
● Have someone else startle you unexpectedly.
This is sometimes enough to stop a hiccup attack.

Seek medical advice
Arrange to see your doctor if:
● A bout of hiccups has lasted for longer
than 24 hours
● You get frequent bouts of hiccups