What Causes Hiccups? Doctors Explain Common Triggers and When They Signal a Health Issue
Hiccups are usually harmless, but in some cases they may signal GERD, kidney trouble or more
While hiccups are typically short-lived, they can also be painful, loud and disruptive—especially if they last hours (or more!). But what causes hiccups, and how can you get rid of them? Here, doctors share the reasons behind these muscle spasms, home remedies to treat them and why persistent hiccuping may signal an underlying health issue.
What causes hiccups and what are they?
“What we call ‘the hiccups’ are actually an involuntary muscle contraction of the diaphragm that occurs when the phrenic nerve (the one responsible for controlling the diaphragm) becomes irritated/stimulated,” says Brynna Connor, MD, Healthcare Ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com
After the muscles contract, Dr. Connor notes that your vocal cords close quickly and suddenly, which “causes the ‘hic’ sound associated with hiccups.”
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Ultimately, anything that causes nerve irritation and diaphragm contraction could cause hiccups. Remember that there is no way to prevent or anticipate hiccups coming, explains Laura Purdy, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of JellyMed. “So, there is nothing you can do to avoid hiccups happening.”
Common causes of hiccups include swallowing air (especially while chewing gum), overeating and/or eating too quickly, eating foods that are hot and/or spicy or drinking too much alcohol or carbonated beverages. Dr. Connor says, “Hiccups can also be caused by emotions—feeling stressed, anxious or excited—or can be a side effect of medication.”
Long-term hiccups may signal a larger health issue
There’s no reason to be concerned about hiccups that last a short time or come and go. But if they’re long-lasting or reoccur often, they might signal a more pressing health issue.
“Hiccups that are persistent/chronic can indicate underlying health issues such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis and certain metabolic disorders,” says Dr. Connor. “Because hiccups are caused by the irritation of the phrenic nerve, which is part of the central nervous system, longer hiccups can also be an indication of a central nervous system disorder like a stroke, brain tumor(s) and/or esophageal cancer.”
Dr. Connor suggests visiting a healthcare professional if your hiccups last longer than 48 hours, are severe enough to impact your ability to eat and/or sleep or are causing a significant negative impact on your life. “A doctor will help determine the potential cause and proper course of treatment,” she says.
Easy ways to stop hiccups
Barring an underlying health issue, hiccups typically go away on their own. But if you want to get rid of them faster, Dr. Purdy says breathwork is key. “You can try holding your breath, intentionally trying to gasp or burp, or work on your breathwork by breathing in a relaxed, intentional, slow way,” she says.
Also smart: breathing into a paper bag, which is like holding your breath. “When you hold your breath, it increases the amount of carbon dioxide in your lungs, which can help relax the diaphragm and stop the involuntary spasms,” says Dr. Connor It also calms down the phrenic nerve and decreases the rate of the contractions.
Other options to help get rid of hiccups are slowly sipping on a glass of cold water or swallowing a teaspoon of sugar. “The cold temperature of the water helps to stimulate the vagus nerve, while the granulated sugar on the back of the throat can help to activate [the nerve],” says Dr. Connor.
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