Published on: 9/30/2024
Methods such as holding one's breath or drinking cold water are considered effective. For persistent or refractory conditions, oral medication may be used for treatment as well as a search for other underlying causes of the hiccups.
The way to stop hiccups differs depending on whether they are temporary, persistent, or intractable.
One of the simplest methods to stop hiccups is to temporarily hold your breath. By holding your breath, the diaphragm is directly stimulated, and the increased concentration of carbon dioxide makes it easier to stop hiccups. Additionally, there are methods to stop hiccups by stimulating the vagus nerve, pulling on the tongue, drinking a cold drink, applying gentle pressure to the carotid, sipping vinegar or swallowing sugar. If hiccups are triggered by habits such as overeating, drinking excessively, or eating too quickly, improving these eating habits can also be effective.
Persistent hiccups are often caused by acid reflux. Therefore, medications that suppress stomach acid are considered effective. Conversely, if a medication is inducing hiccups, stopping or switching to a different medication can lead to improvement. After speaking with a health care provider, you may also try medications that work to suppress the hiccup reflex. If there is no improvement with medication treatment, acupuncture may sometimes prove effective.\
(References)
Steger M, Schneemann M, Fox M. Systemic review: the pathogenesis and pharmacological treatment of hiccups. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Nov;42(9):103750. doi: 10.1111/apt.13374. Epub 2015 Aug 25. PMID: 26307025.
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