Hiccups
Most people get hiccups sometimes. They should only last a few minutes. You can usually wait for them to go away or treat them yourself without seeing a GP. You should only see a GP if your hiccups last for more than 48 hours or are affecting your life.
What causes hiccups
There's often no obvious reason why you get hiccups. Some people find certain things trigger their hiccups, such as:
- stress
- strong emotions, like excitement
- eating and drinking
In rare cases, hiccups that last longer than 48 hours can be due to a medical condition or a medicine you're taking.
Things you can do help stop or prevent hiccups
There are some things you should and shouldn’t do to help stop or prevent hiccups.
Although many people find these things helpful, the evidence that they will work is limited. They will not help everyone.
See information below for what these include.
Do:
- breathe into a paper bag (don't put it over your head)
- pull your knees up to your chest and lean forward
- sip ice-cold water
- bite on a lemon or taste vinegar
- hold your breath for a short time
Don't:
- drink alcoholic, fizzy or hot drinks
- chew gum or smoke – these can cause you to swallow air
- eat spicy food
- eat food very quickly
- eat or drink something very cold immediately after something hot
When to see your GP
You should see your GP if your hiccups:
- last longer than 48 hours
- come back very often and are affecting your life
Treatment for hiccups
Your GP will want to find out if your hiccups are caused by:
- a health condition
- medication you're taking
Treating the condition or changing your medicine should stop your hiccups.
If there's no obvious cause, they may be able to prescribe medicine to treat your hiccups. This isn’t suitable for everyone and doesn't work for everyone.
More useful links
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
For further information see terms and conditions.