Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
Causes of hiccups: fast eating, fizzy drinks, alcohol and reflux, plus nerve, brain, metabolic and medicine causes.
Most hiccups come from something that irritates the diaphragm or the nerves that control it.
Common everyday triggers
Medical causes of longer-lasting hiccups
Who is more likely to get them
Babies after feeds, people who drink alcohol, and people with reflux or recent surgery.
Ayurvedic view
Ayurveda links hikka to aggravated vata and kapha, often connected with irregular eating. This is a traditional framework and not a proven explanation.
Key point
A clear trigger such as a fast meal explains most cases. Hiccups with no clear cause that continue deserve a medical check.
Before your appointment
Note when the hiccups began, how long they last, what seems to trigger or ease them, and whether they disturb sleep or eating. List all medicines, alcohol use, recent surgery and any reflux, chest pain, weakness or breathing trouble. Bring past reports. Ask about tests, treatment options and the warning signs that mean you should call 112 or 102.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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Yoga for hiccups: slow breathing and gentle posture for calm, and what to avoid after meals or surgery.
Stages of a hiccup episode from onset to persistent and intractable, and the 48-hour point to see a doctor.
Hiccup symptoms: repeated hic sounds and chest jerks, and warning signs of a bigger problem that need care.
Types of hiccups: short-lived, persistent and intractable, and common causes from food to nerve and brain conditions.
Hiccups diet: eat slowly, smaller meals, limit fizzy drinks, alcohol and spicy food, and manage reflux.
Preventing hiccups: slow eating, fewer fizzy drinks and alcohol, managing reflux and stress, feeding babies calmly.
