Hiccups are few people enjoy. When it appears suddenly, it can ruin a person’s mood for the whole day. That is why many are interested in the question of how to stop hiccups in an adult. There are several effective methods by which you can get rid of the problem. We will talk more about them in this article. However, before you learn how to stop hiccups in an adult, you need to understand its varieties.
Hiccup types
In the field of medicine, experts identify three main types of hiccups. These include the following:
- Hiccup of Benin. This type of hiccup is the most common. It is found in most people. Typically, this hiccup lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. However, it can occur several times a day.
- Persistent hiccups. Such hiccups last for two days, sometimes longer. In addition, it is repetitive.
- Long hiccups. This type of hiccup can last for several months, and in some cases several years.
Causes
Before answering the question of how to stop hiccups in an adult, it is also necessary to understand the causes of its appearance. Hiccup itself is an involuntary rhythmic contraction of the diaphragm, as well as intercostal muscles. Muscle cramps are accompanied by the closure of the gap, which is located between the vocal cords. It is for this reason that a person makes a characteristic sound. Many people wonder what the reason for the appearance of hiccups in humans. Consider the most common of them:
- The most popular cause of hiccups is overeating. Excessively full, as well as a person’s greatly stretched stomach, can lead to the formation of muscle contractions.
- Another reason for the appearance of hiccups lies in the irritation of the so-called vagus nerve. A long hiccup for no apparent reason is observed in a person due to the fact that the phrenic nerve begins to transmit excitation to the muscles. This reason is still poorly understood.
- Many experience hiccups because of fright, when due to a sharp inhalation, a clamp of the aforementioned phrenic nerve is observed.
- With such an unpleasant ailment as hiccups, absolutely anyone who will stay for a long time in an uncomfortable position, for example, when the body is squeezed or pinched, can encounter it.
- There is also a less common reason for its occurrence, which is as follows: hypothermia, successful swallowing of insufficiently chewed food, intoxication, strong laughter or an angry cough.
- The cause of this kind of problem may also be internal pathology or damage. The most common diseases include the digestive and nervous systems, as well as metabolic disorders.
When you have an idea of the cause of the problem, you can greatly facilitate the task of getting rid of it. It happens that a simple precaution greatly helps to prevent hiccups. However, cases are not excluded when even surgical intervention is necessary to combat hiccups.
How to stop hiccups in an adult?
There are many quick methods with which you can get rid of unpleasant hiccups. If the cause of the appearance does not pose any danger to human health, then you can solve this problem on your own at home. So, how to stop hiccups in an adult? Consider the most effective methods.
Water
Surely many have heard that hiccups in an adult and a child can be stopped with water. This method is based on diaphragm irritation. However, you should pay attention to the fact that you need to drink the liquid in a chilled form and in small sips, slowly. Swallowing movements in combination with a temperature difference work perfectly in the fight against hiccups.
Breath
Many people wonder how to stop hiccups in an adult after alcohol. A very effective tool will be holding your breath. You can try to work on reducing diaphragm pressure. To do this, take full air, hold your breath to the maximum. Inhalation is best done not with the breast, but with your stomach, as is done in yoga.
Package
We continue to consider how to stop hiccups in humans. This method involves breathing in a bag, but not in plastic, but out of paper. First you need to inflate it so that it forms a bubble. Then the air from the paper bag must be drawn into itself.
Sugar or butter
Butter or sugar is also a very effective way to stop hiccups. To do this, one teaspoon of sugar is placed under the tongue, slowly absorbed. This action provokes profuse salivation in humans, which affects the functioning of the esophagus, diaphragm sensitivity, as well as swallowing. But how to quickly stop hiccups if you do not like sugar? To do this, you can use natural butter, which also resolves under the tongue.
Fright
What to do to stop hiccups at home? For this hiccuping person you can just scare. The fact is that through a sudden sound or a sharp pop, a reflex is provoked that will be the opposite of the one that provoked the problem. As a result of a sharp reduction in the diaphragm, there is a chance to get rid of the obsessive hiccups.
Press your knees to your chest
You can solve the hiccup problem by simply pressing the knees to your chest. However, you should pay attention to the fact that you need to bend so as to squeeze the diaphragm.
Hiccups, which lasts no more than 10 minutes, pose no danger to human health. To prevent this problem, you need to eat balanced, not overeat, take care of your nervous system, and also adhere to a generally healthy lifestyle.
Special gymnastics
Quite often, people use special exercises to deal with hiccups that affect the larynx muscles. Let's consider them in more detail:
- Open your mouth wide, slightly raise the tongue to the larynx. This can be done using the back of a teaspoon or using a special stick. Please note that during this procedure, you may experience a gag reflex. But this will only help stop the problem. As a result of such actions, problem areas of the nerve endings are stimulated, and the contraction of the diaphragmatic muscles is also prevented.
- You can also do light exercises, during which the muscular system of the diaphragm and the press are activated. As a rule, such actions lead to a positive result in the fight against hiccups.
- We can get rid of obsessive hiccups with the help of breathing exercises, as well as performing the so-called yoga asanas. If you have never heard of such exercises, you can just pull up, standing on your toes, making a slow slope, but at the same time not forgetting about the deep and even breathing that should be done through the nose.
- You can also stop cramping in the respiratory organs using the following steps. Take a deep breath, while simultaneously covering your nose and ears with your fingers. In this state, it is recommended to be 5-10 seconds.
- Singers and professional announcers have a very interesting method of dealing with hiccups with a simple gargle. To do this, you need to draw a small amount of water, after which the head is thrown back, and the air is exhaled through the throat. Please note that you must not swallow fluid while performing this exercise.
- Simple swallowing of saliva helps many in their fight against hiccups. This method will be relevant for frequent attacks of hiccups that are caused by laryngeal spasm. At the same time, a small portion of saliva is swallowed, but each time you swallow it, you should hold your breath for a short while. This method can be used to combat both long-term and short-term hiccups.
- If you have a slight mild hiccups, you can simply click on the indentation located at the bottom of the neck.
- With a light chest massage, you can quickly deal with hiccups.
It is important to note that these methods apply to short-term hiccups. If you have a long involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, then it is better to seek the help of a specialist who will select the most suitable method for you to deal with such an attack.
Long hiccups
If you suffer from prolonged hiccups, then such a case needs a more deliberate and decisive action. As a rule, in such situations, the specialist prescribes a medication that helps get rid of the problem. In some cases, muscle relaxants are prescribed, as well as drugs that regulate digestion. The use of antacid or carminative agents may also be prescribed.
You can also get rid of stable hiccups by saturating the blood with carbon dioxide. This can be done simply by breathing in a paper bag with your mouth open.
Hiccups, which appeared as a result of stress, need to comply with some recommendations, which are as follows:
- In stressful situations, breathing should be calm, even, no need to hold it.
- Before some important event, it is recommended to take a sedative, as well as divert your attention to some other issue.
- A bracelet or elastic is worn on the wrist. When you feel hiccups, sharply shade the elastic and lower it.
Reviews
Reviews of people who often suffer from hiccups suggest that this problem is most easily eliminated with a drunk glass of water. Some at the same time say that they use breath holding to fight hiccups.