Most people get hiccups sometimes. They should only last a few minutes – you can usually wait for them to go away or treat them yourself without seeing a GP.
Things you can do yourself to stop or prevent hiccups
Although many people find these things helpful, there's no evidence that they work for everyone.
Do
- breathe into a paper bag (don't put it over your head)
- pull your knees up to your chest and lean forward
- sip ice-cold water
- swallow some granulated sugar
- bite on a lemon or taste vinegar
- hold your breath for a short time
Don't
- do not drink alcoholic, fizzy or hot drinks
- do not chew gum or smoke – these can cause you to swallow air
- do not eat spicy food
- do not eat food very quickly
- do not eat or drink something very cold immediately after something hot
Why we get hiccups
There's often no obvious reason why you get hiccups, but some people find certain things trigger their hiccups, such as:
- stress
- strong emotions, like excitement
- eating and drinking
In rare cases, hiccups that last longer than 48 hours can be due to a medical condition or a medicine you're taking.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if your hiccups:
- last longer than 48 hours
- come back very often and are affecting your life
Treatment from a GP
Your GP will want to find out if your hiccups are caused by a health condition or medication you're taking – treating the condition or changing your medicine should stop your hiccups.
If there's no obvious cause, they might be able to prescribe medicine to treat your hiccups. This doesn't work for everyone.
Page last reviewed: 15 July 2017
Next review due: 15 July 2020