Home remedies for hiccups in adults

A hiccup is a sudden spasm of the diaphragm that changes the flow of air and creates the familiar sound. In adults, a bout may follow rapid eating, overeating, fizzy drinks, alcohol, emotional stress or a sudden change in temperature.

Repeated episodes can be linked with irritation in the upper digestive tract. Acid reflux or gastritis may be relevant when hiccups occur with heartburn, nausea, a sour taste or upper-abdominal discomfort; the hiccups alone do not identify the cause.

Stop eating briefly and sit upright. Relax your breathing, then take slow breaths through your nose and small sips of water. Resume food slowly, using smaller bites and avoiding gulping. For the rest of the day, consider avoiding alcohol and carbonated drinks if they appear to trigger symptoms.

Do not use risky tricks such as swallowing objects, startling someone or forcing breath-holding. If symptoms suggest reflux, ask a clinician whether acid reflux medication is appropriate rather than borrowing treatment.

Contact a clinician if hiccups persist, keep returning, interfere with sleep or make eating difficult. Seek urgent help for severe chest or abdominal pain, breathing difficulty, repeated vomiting, inability to swallow, confusion, weakness or a sudden change in speech or movement.

Ask whether your medicines, reflux, gastritis or another condition could be involved. Bring a record of timing, food and drink triggers, associated symptoms and how the hiccups affect sleep or meals.