When you’re trying to sit through a business meeting, the last thing you want is a case of hiccups. But if you’ve just eaten a spicy meal or feel a little stressed, you might be stuck with a case. Fortunately, you don’t have to distract everyone around you with this annoying muscle contraction.
Read on to learn how to get rid of hiccups in adults!
Focus on Breathing
What are hiccups? Hiccups are diaphragm spasms that can be triggered by anything from air temperature changes to spicy foods. One of the best ways to make them go away is through focused breathing.
Try taking a gulp of air and holding it as long as you can. Alternatively, you can breathe slowly or even into a paper bag. The idea is that you’re relaxing your body, which can help relieve hiccups.
You can also sit and grab your knees toward your chest. Hold them in this position as you breathe slowly. Doing so compresses your diaphragm and may help rid you of your hiccups.
Turn to Fluids
While there’s not one hiccups cure that works for everyone, many have success with water. You can gargle water to try to ease your hiccups. You also can try drinking a glass of cold water without stopping.
When you do this, the cold water will interfere with the diaphragm’s spasms and help reset your breathing. As a bonus, you’ll ensure that you’re getting your daily water needs taken care of!
Pause on Pressure Points
No hiccups guide is complete without mentioning pressure points as ways to ease your diaphragm. Think of pressure points as areas where your body is more sensitive to being touched. As a result, you can relax other muscles that contribute to hiccups.
Place pressure on your diaphragm as one pressure point option. The diaphragm is between your lungs and abdomen. You can try applying pressure to your palm, too.
An another option, try grabbing your tongue and pulling it forward. When you grab your tongue, you’ll trigger a reaction from your throat that may stop the hiccups.
Try Vinegar or Sugar
Sugar or vinegar can help get rid of hiccups in adults, too. Put some sugar on the tip of your tongue and then swallow it. The granulated sugar will bother your throat and regulate the hiccup spasms.
Vinegar operates similarly. While you wouldn’t normally consume vinegar on its own, you’ll appreciate this sour fluid’s ability to settle your breathing.
Other foods can help, too. Find more information here about how you can regulate your breathing with specially-formulated sweet treats. Within seconds, you can be back to normal!
Learn How to Get Rid of Hiccups in Adults
When you know a few strategies for how to get rid of hiccups in adults, you can get rid of these pesky spasms. Try interrupting them with a taste of vinegar or sugar. Or turn to focused breathing or water consumption for relief.
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