Did you know that Charles Osbourne hiccupped straight from 1922 to 1990 (68 years), equating to about 430 million times? Despite hiccuping 20-40 times a minute, he was able to lead a pretty normal life.

Are hiccups dangerous, you might wonder?

In most cases, hiccups aren’t anything to worry about. Read on to find out more about the causes and treatments of hiccups.

What Causes Hiccups?

The sound of hiccuping is caused by a quick influx of air that hits your vocal cords. The spasm itself comes from your diaphragm or the nerves that control it. Hiccups get caused by a wide variety of reasons.

  • Eating or drinking too fast
  • Stress
  • Swallowing air while chewing gum
  • Drinking in excess carbonated beverages or alcohol
  • Feeling excited, nervous, or scared
  • Esophagus irritation

These are all minor reasons that may trigger your hiccuping episode.

How to Stop Hiccups

There are as many cures for hiccups as there are cultures in the world. Some of them are:

  • Drinking ice water
  • Suck on an ice cube
  • Slowly drink a full glass of warm water without stopping to breathe
  • Breathing into a paper bag
  • Eating a lemon wedge
  • Mild pressure on your closed eyes
  • Gently pulling on your tongue
  • Sucking on hiccup-stopping lollipops (go here to buy some)
  • Getting someone to startle you

This is just a smattering of the available homemade cures. A lot of them work quite well and will get rid of your hiccups fast.

When Hiccups Might Turn Dangerous

The problem is when you have chronic hiccups, that is, if you keep hiccuping and it’s been 2 or more days already. That’s when you need to consider if there is an underlying condition that you need to worry about.

Also, if the chronic hiccups are accompanied by some other symptoms like sudden onset numbness or coordination issues, they could be an indication of something worse like an imminent stroke. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to your body when you get hiccups or in general throughout the day.

You are the one who knows your body best and you will instantly know when something feels off or not right. If you are hiccuping and it feels just like a typical bout of hiccups, then you don’t need to worry. But if you feel like it’s not just hiccups but something more, it’s time for you to visit a medical professional.

It’s better to be overcautious in such a situation than under. This could end up saving your or your loved one’s life.

Are Hiccups Dangerous? – Not in Most Cases

Almost everyone has had many bouts of hiccups in their lifetime. At some point, most folks start wondering, are hiccups dangerous? Well, as iterated earlier, they aren’t dangerous in a majority of cases.

That’s why you can rest assured even if you or your loved ones are hiccuping away. Keep reading through the other articles on our website to learn more about this fascinating world we live in.