by Ann Marie Dwyer

Created on: October 12, 2007

Everyone has had them. Hiccups occur at funny times and are funny to everyone but the hiccupper! Sometimes it is being tickled, and other times it is drinking too fast, but all have the same outcome...hiccups. So let's cure them.

Hiccuping is merely a spasm of the diaphragm, the large muscle that expands and contracts to draw air into the lungs and expel it. That is why, if not cured promptly, hiccups can hurt. The spasm is caused by gases in the stomach putting pressure on the diaphragm.

When we laugh or drink, we churn the contents of the stomach. The gas in the stomach is lighter than the liquid and solid contents, so it forms a bubble that rises to the top. When this happens, the diaphragm is compressed from the underside. Its natural reaction is to spasm to push the pressure away and keep it from interfering with its important work. The spasm causes the hiccup.

The cure is very simple: belch. That's right...burp. Expelling the gas from the stomach relieves the pressure that the diaphragm is experiencing. While the age old cure of drinking water will stir the contents of the stomach, it will not expel the gas. Nearly one third of all hiccups are caused from drinking liquids.

To trigger a belch, the talented adult may simply force themselves to burp. Others can hold their breath and push down on the stomach with the hardened diaphragm to cause a belch. Some must resort to carbonated water, like the major ingredient in soft drinks, to churn the gases enough to bring them up alone.

Babies and toddlers will not be able to belch on cue, as a general rule. Adults can help by patting the child on the back while holding the child against the adult's chest. This is safer than patting on the back while the child is standing, as the transfer of pressure will alert the adult as to how much pressure is being applied.

Larger children may be turned over an adult's lap for the same patting, just below the diaphragm. The last three ribs are the safe zone to pat away hiccups without the unpleasant vomit that sometimes accompanies a burp from a little one.

Adults, children and babies alike can use this sure-fire method of banishing the hiccups, at least until the next tickle fight.

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