Try these home remedies:
- Take deep, slow breaths.
- Drink water or ice water.
- Gargle.
- Let someone or something scare you.
- Bite into a lemon.
- Hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Pull on your tongue.
- Blow up a balloon.
- Breathe into a paper bag.
- Sit down and pull your knees to your chest for one minute.
- Put a cold compress on your face.
You might also try the Valsalva maneuver. To do it, pinch your nose and hold your breath, then force yourself to exhale and bear down as if you’re going to poop. Hold for about 10 seconds. This might be one you want to attempt if you’re at home by yourself versus in public, though.Unfortunately, experts say that none of these “cures” emerge as the winning remedy. But the good news is, they might get rid of your hiccups, and most are safe to try.
If you have cardiac or respiratory disease, where shortness of breath is common, then it might not be a good idea to attempt holding your breath for a long period of time.
How To Prevent Hiccups
If you get hiccups often, pay attention to when you’re getting them in the first place. If you notice that you tend to have hiccups in similar situations—overeating, consuming spicy foods, exposure to irritants—then you may have to avoid those situations going forward if the hiccups are truly a nuisance to you.
