Hiccups are caused by things that irritate a muscle in the chest. This muscle is called the diaphragm. It helps the lungs take in air during breathing.

Phrenic Nerve and Diaphragm

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk are:

Eating habits—too much, too fast, or too spicy
Drinking alcohol or fizzy drinks like soda
Sudden changes in temperature
Smoking
Stress or strong emotions
Certain medical procedures, such as endoscopy

Hard to control hiccups are more common in men. The risk is also higher in people with an underlying health problem or injury.

Symptoms

The main symptom is a repeating spasm in the chest that cannot be controlled. A person may also make a gasping sound.

Diagnosis

Medical care may be needed if hiccups do not go away or cause other problems. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam may be done. Tests may be done to look for a cause.

Tests may be:

Blood and urine tests
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Images of the body, such as:
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Treatment

Most hiccups go away on their own. Or they can be treated with methods at home, such as holding one's breath or breathing into a paper bag.

Hiccups that do not go away on their own may be treated with:

Alternative methods, such as massage and acupuncture
Medicines such as:
- Antipsychotics
- Antiseizure medicine
- Medicines to treat nausea
- Muscle relaxers

Prevention

There are no known guidelines to prevent hiccups. People who get them often may want to avoid:

Eating too much too quickly
Spicy foods
Smoking
Drinking fizzy drinks or alcohol
Stress or strong emotions

RESOURCES:

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
https://familydoctor.org

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Lee, G, Kim, R, et. al. Gender differences in hiccup patients: analysis of published case reports and case-control studies. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2016 Feb;51(2):278-83.

Hiccups. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hiccups. Accessed January 6, 2021.

What causes hiccups? Kids Health—Nemours Foundation website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated August 2014. Accessed January 6, 2021.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 1/6/2021

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