Written by Dallea Caldwell
No matter how serious or adult you actually are, everyone seems to treat you like a rosy-cheeked squirrel juggling acorns in a Disney movie as soon as you succumb to a bout with hiccups. The irritating phenomenon is the result of spasms that contract your diaphragm, sparking a reflexive intake of breath that’s disrupted by the closure of your vocal chords. The lurching halt and accompanying hiccup sound can happen for many reasons, like if you…
No matter how they start, everyone and their mama (especially their mama) know how to cure hiccups. Here are 3 especially fun ones to try on your own! Let us know what works!
1) Exhale all the air in your lungs, keep pushing until you feel empty as possible. 2)Hold.. hold… hold… HOLD your breath as long as you can before taking another breath. Seva Man went 5 seconds without passing out. 3) Inhale slowly, deeply.
2) Take a moderate gulp of water, but don’t swallow. 2) Pull each earlobe down. 3) Tilt your head back. 4) NOW swallow.
3) Put a big spoonful of peanut butter in your mouth 2) Hold it for 5 seconds. 3) Swallow without chewing. (Actually don’t. It seems like a choking hazard. Who’s mom is responsible for this idea?)
Or…try this instead.
1) Stick out your tongue as far as you can.
2) Hold it in place using your thumb and forefinger if necessary
3) Keep your tongue stuck out for 3-5 minutes.
Now, if you haven’t been cured of the hiccups- you can be sure no one is smirking because you look like a curious bunny adorably sniffing their shoes- they will now be smirking because you look like a full grown adult curiously sniffing their shoes. Also known as weird. But, it’ll be fun!
For Actual Hiccup Problems
Warning: If you have persistent, severe hiccups, you should contact your doctor. It may be symptomatic of a number of conditions including problems with the central or peripheral nervous system (cancer, stroke, injury), the body’s chemical metabolic processes (kidney failure, hyperventilation), or your psychological health.
