Specialist in emergency medicine, in a comment to New Scientist.
Orgasm results in incredible stimulation of the vagus nerve. From now on, I will recommend sex as a cure for intractable hiccups.
Distract yourself
In some cases, to get rid of hiccups, all you have to do is stop concentrating on them. Take a Chinese or English lesson in an online simulator, complete a crossword puzzle, or try to calculate 112 ÷ 4 × 2.5 in your mind.
What to do if you can’t stop hiccupping
If the hiccups persist for longer than 48 hours or come back frequently and interfere, this is a reason to see a GP. For children, this period is shorter – you should see a paediatrician if the hiccups last more than two hours.
The doctor will try to find out the possible cause of the problem. Often such a long hiccup occurs due to the intake of certain medications. And sometimes it is caused by various conditions, such as diseases of the stomach, oesophagus, pneumonia, pancreatitis, damage or irritation of the vagus or diaphragmatic nerves, disorders of the central nervous system, metabolic problems. Sometimes hiccups appear due to excessive alcohol consumption.
As treatment, the specialist may suggest prescription drugs. These drugs block calcium channels inside the cells, due to which the brain begins to produce substances that stimulate the activity of the diaphragm.
If pills do not help, the doctor may offer an injection of anaesthetic – thanks to this the diaphragmatic nerve will be blocked and the hiccups will stop. In some cases, a device can be surgically implanted to stimulate the vagus nerve.
How to prevent hiccups from returning
Most often, avoiding swallowing air and spasms of the diaphragm is enough to keep the hiccups at bay. To do this:
reduce the amount of alcoholic, carbonated or very hot drinks in your diet;
try not to chew gum or smoke;
try to avoid or eat less spicy foods;
don’t eat or drink something very cold immediately after a hot drink;
take your time chewing and don’t overeat;
do exercises to keep your neck from straining;
if you are anxious or nervous, try to calm down.
