"Hiccups - How to Handle Them"

Hiccups (also called hiccoughs) are one of the most common physiologic abnormalities, and can be easy to treat. I'm sure you've tried various longtime, ‘tried and true’, remedies to treat them, usually failing to work (such as holding your breath), but you may be surprised at the ones that do (particularly, those that require you be upside down to do them).

After a brief overview of their causes, I provide a list of 13 of the best hiccough remedies.

A hiccough is caused by involuntary, repeated contractions of the diaphragm. When this happens, the area between the vocal cords snaps shut, and, then, the traditional hiccup sound is heard.

If you eat your food too fast, you can swallow too much air when you eat, which can cause hiccoughs.

Serious hiccoughs may be caused by underlying illnesses. For example, respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis may lead to hiccoughs. Also, disorders of the kidneys and liver can cause them.

Here are some of the best home remedies I've found to treat hiccoughs. One of these is sure to provide relief from this occasional irritation.

1. Peanut butter. Peanut butter is one of the best cures for hiccoughs I know. On one day, I had the hiccoughs on three different times. Each time, eating 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter solved the problem. Relief occurred instantly to a couple of minutes. Works every time.

2. Granulated sugar. Try placing a teaspoon of dry granulated sugar on the back of your tongue and then swallowing it. This may help. Also, try soaking a sugar cube in lemon juice, then letting it dissolve in your mouth.

3. Breathing into a small paper bag. Breathing into a small paper bag, then immediately inhaling the carbon dioxide. This will increase carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which is thought to stop hiccups. Blow in and out 10 times until you're red in the face

4. Apple cider vinegar. Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water and then slowly drink.

5. Yank forcefully on your tongue.

6. Drink a glass of water upside down. Bending at the waist, and then drinking a glass of water really works. Or, as an alternative, bend over and then drink the water from the opposite side of the glass.

7. Block both ears, and then drink 6 ounces of water without breathing. Works most of the time.

8. Yogurt. Add 2 teaspoons of salt to yogurt and eat. A good remedy for hiccoughs.

9. Plug up your nose and ears and drink a glass of water.

10. Tickle your uvula (the piece of skin hanging down at the back of your mouth) with a wrapped straw.

11. Inhale some smelling salts

12. Tickle the soft palate of the roof of your mouth with a Q-Tip.

13. Take an antacid. One or two should do it.

Although hiccups can be an aggravation to your daily activities, remedies such as those mentioned above should provide relief in short order.