We've all experienced hiccups at some point and tried different ways to deal with it. In general, hiccups are somewhat similar to ball lightning - no one knows where and why it appears, and why it disappears is a mystery. But we want to offer you six ways to combat this phenomenon that really work. No, seriously. Well, at least some of them...
Omniscient scientists tell us that hiccups are involuntary convulsive contractions of the diaphragm, accompanied by impaired respiratory functions. In principle, there is nothing particularly dangerous in this, unless, of course, it is caused by some medical pathology. But there is little pleasant in hiccups, especially if it lasts for a long time or visited you at a completely inappropriate time. Therefore, try to get rid of it in one of the proven ways.
There are a huge number of ways associated with breathing. This can be deep, energetic breathing or, conversely, holding your breath. In any case, the goal of all these methods is the same — to distract your brain and make it stop sending nerve impulses to contract the diaphragm.
There are even more ways to deal with hiccups associated with drinking than with breathing. Some recommend drinking a large glass of water in one gulp, others recommend drinking slowly through a straw. In fact, it does not matter much, it is only important that you make swallowing movements that cause temporary changes in your breathing. This, as in the previous method, can stop the spasms of your diaphragm.
Every family has its own recipe for the perfect hiccup product. Most often, a spoonful of sugar or a slice of lemon with sugar acts as such a magic drug. But in fact, it doesn't really matter, since, like the previous two methods, it is just a means to influence your breathing.
When you stick out and pull out your tongue, you stimulate the back of the nasopharynx and vocal cords, which can bring you some relief.
Here you definitely can not do without outside help. A light and, most importantly, sincere fright can help you for two reasons at once. Firstly, the stress of the nervous system causes your breathing to malfunction (yes, it is again), and secondly, it can simply distract your brain, which will immediately stop the hiccups.
A common method of defeating hiccups is palm squeezing, pinching or patting — in a word, any method that, with the help of a small painful effect, is able to distract your nervous system.
And what proprietary ways of dealing with hiccups do you own? To the reader who proposed the most original method, universal respect and lifelong relief from hiccups!
