- Breathing
- Eating
- Healing of wounds after surgery
- Sleeping
- Speech
If your hiccups continue beyond 48 hours, schedule an appointment with your doctor to seek medical attention and to prevent further complications.
Hiccups and COVID
With COVID-19, persistent hiccups have been reported in some patient cases. Although rare, persistent hiccups are sometimes a sole sign of COVID.
Hiccups in pregnancy
For expectant moms, hiccups can become a bother.
Many expectant moms begin to feel fetal hiccups, which feel like jerky motions, in their sixth month of pregnancy. The time during the pregnancy may differ with each expectant mom, the same as fetal movement.
Hiccups after surgery
Hiccups can be triggered by anesthesia drugs that are administered to patients during surgery to prevent pain during the procedure.
These drugs can irritate the vagus nerve, resulting in hiccups after surgery. These hiccups are usually considered chronic spasms, lasting beyond 48 hours.
RELATED: 9 Ways To Relieve Your Baby’s Hiccups
How to get rid of baby hiccups
Hiccups tend to be common in babies, and surprisingly, do not affect them as many would believe.
Studies show that hiccups may be an important part of breathing and brain development in babies.
If the hiccups appear to become uncomfortable for the baby, burping or giving the baby a pacifier may be helpful.
How to get rid of hiccups fast
Hiccups usually stop on their own. Even a sip or two of water helps. There are home remedies you can try for getting rid of your hiccups, such as:
- Holding your breath for a few seconds/breathing or sneezing into a paper bag
- Cardamom powder – boil, strain, then drink after it cools off
- Ginger – chew slowly on a small peeled and cleaned piece
- Lemon – take a bite
- Peanut butter – eat a spoonful
- Vinegar or water – take a sip
Again, if hiccups persist, seek medical attention. Other methods of getting rid of hiccups that may be suggested, depending on your underlying cause, are:
- Electrical stimulation
- Medications (such as amitriptyline, baclofen, chlorpromazine, dexamethasone, haloperidol, nifedipine, and some anti-convulsant medications)
If all else fails, surgery is a last resort.