Most hiccups will go away on their own. But in some cases they can last for a while. And if you test one of those old wives’ tales about stopping hiccups – say, getting someone to scare you – you’re probably going to be disappointed.
There are a few home remedies you can try, although there’s not very much proof that any of them really work.
- Hold your breath and swallow three times
- Breathe into a paper bag but stop before you get lightheaded!
- Drink a glass of water quickly
- Swallow a teaspoon of sugar
- Pull on your tongue
- Gargle with water
If your hiccups last more than 2 days or are severe enough to interfere with eating, breathing, or sleeping, contact your doctor. They might be able to treat chronic hiccups with medication or run some tests to see why your hiccups aren't going away.
Talk to your doctor immediately if, along with hiccups, you have any kind of stomach pain, chest pain, fever, shortness of breath, or vomiting, or if you cough up blood.