Almost everyone has encountered the amusing yet often irritating phenomenon of hiccups—those sudden sounds that can catch us off guard. While they can be funny to witness in others, they often become bothersome when they affect us personally. “Almost everyone has hiccups at some point,” states Dr. Christopher Pullins, a family medicine expert from the Mayo Clinic. “However, how often and how severely people get hiccups can differ greatly from one person to another.”

This article will explore what hiccups are, what triggers them, and some effective methods to help get rid of them.

What are hiccups?

According to Dr. Pullins, hiccups result from “involuntary spasms of the diaphragm.” The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle positioned beneath the lungs and heart. When these involuntary contractions occur, they cause the vocal cords to shut quickly, leading to the classic hiccup sound.

Generally, hiccups are not harmful and don’t last long for most people. However, Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, notes that some people experience chronic hiccups, referred to as intractable hiccups, which can persist for weeks, months, or even longer.

Some individuals are more susceptible to hiccups than others. “The reasons for this remain uncertain, but it may relate to physical differences, such as how an individual’s stomach is positioned in relation to the diaphragm, which could make it more likely for stomach irritation to provoke hiccups,” he adds.

What causes hiccups?

Various factors can lead to the involuntary diaphragm spasms that cause hiccups. These triggers include medications, stress, recent surgical procedures, nerve damage, and abrupt changes in temperature. “Any trigger affecting the nervous system that regulates the diaphragm can result in hiccups,” explains Dr. Pullins.

Your dietary choices can also play a role. For example, consuming hot or spicy foods can irritate the nerves affecting the diaphragm. Eating or drinking hastily may similarly stress the diaphragm—this includes the effects of carbonated drinks, overeating, or swallowing air while chewing gum, as noted by Dr. Nagata.

Hiccups may also signal an underlying medical issue. Dr. Pullins indicates that neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease can provoke hiccups. Other medical conditions that may cause hiccups include lung diseases like pneumonia, metabolic disorders such as hypocalcemia, kidney issues like renal cell carcinoma, and even tumors located in the brain stem or stomach.

Individuals suffering from GERD or acid reflux are also at greater risk of experiencing hiccups, as these conditions can provoke irritation in the diaphragm.

How to get rid of hiccups

Assuming your hiccups are not associated with a serious health issue, there are numerous strategies to eliminate them. These techniques might include drawing your knees toward your chest while leaning forward, gently pinching both sides of your nose while swallowing, or carefully pulling your (clean!) tongue gently down and out of your mouth. “In some severe cases, prescription medications may be suggested,” Dr. Pullins remarks.

Dr. Nagata mentions that holding your breath for a short duration can help “to boost the carbon dioxide levels in your blood, potentially relaxing the diaphragm.” Similarly, breathing into a paper bag “may help increase carbon dioxide levels in the blood and calm the diaphragm,” he adds. Drinking cold water slowly is another method believed to stimulate the vagus nerve, which regulates the diaphragm. While these practices are reported to be effective, “it’s essential to keep in mind that none have been scientifically validated.”