Hiccups occur as a result of a sudden contraction of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles that are situated between the ribs. It can be because of – any kind of stress, overeating, eating too fast (eating quickly), certain diseases like pneumonia.

Baby hiccups - Newborn hiccups are mostly because of overfeeding, eating too quickly or inhaling a lot of air. Baby hiccups can last from 10 minutes to half an hour that too multiple times a day. You can prevent hiccups by doing simple things

1. Avoid overfeeding. Don’t feed continuously, take breaks in between.

2. If swallowing air is the main reason, make sure the baby's lips are sealed around the areola of your breast, not just the nipple. In case of bottle feeding, the baby's lip should fully cover the mouth of the bottle.

3. After feeding babies, make sure to burp the baby, make them sit in an upright position and rub their back.

Hiccups are very common in newborns. You can try these methods for baby hiccups or else they go away on their own sometimes. Nonetheless, if the baby doesn’t stop hiccupping after a long period, don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician.

Triggering factors in adults

Consuming spicy foods

Inhaling too much air 

Drinking carbonated drinks

Smoking/excess alcohol consumption

Extreme emotions like fear, anxiety, excitement

Easy home remedies for hiccups in adults

Drinking warm water/normal water – Sipping a glass of warm water/ normal water helps stimulate the activity of the vagus nerve that travels from the brain down to the stomach and thus reduces hiccups.

Patting on the back – This is the most common remedy we all do. Patting on the back along the spine helps release the tension in the diaphragm muscles and stops hiccups.

Holding breath – Holding breath for a few seconds effectively retains some carbon dioxide in the body. This functions to eliminate the spasms in the diaphragm, thereby preventing hiccups.

Placing sugar on the tongue – Placing a half teaspoon of sugar at the back of the tongue, holding this position for two minutes and then swallowing the sugar. Here pressure applied on the tongue tightens the diaphragm muscles thereby reducing hiccups.

Sucking lemon – Lemon flavor naturally invigorates the nasopharynx muscles. This, in turn, relaxes the knots in the diaphragm muscles and decreases hiccups.

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as professional medical advice.  Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other health professionals for any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.