• Question: how do you stop hipcups?

    Asked by ellapowerxxx to Damien, Suzi, Tim on 23 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Tim Fosker

      Tim Fosker answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Hi @ellapowerxxx

      I know hiccups are caused by an involuntary contraction (spasm) of the diaphragm (the sheet of muscle that lies under the rib cage). I don’t think anyone really knows how to stop it contradicting once it is set off, but lots of people have their own methods they use.

      I always drink slowly from a glass of water upside down. That means I tilt my head forward and drink from the opposite side of the glass than you would normally. I wouldn’t try suspending yourself from the ceiling while trying to drink a glass of water it ‘may’ stop your hiccups, but more than likely it will just end up making your friends laugh themselves silly! 😀

      Sorry I haven’t got a more scientific answer.

    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Hi @ellapowerxxx
      Once a friend managed to stop me hiccuping by saying ‘I’ll give you £10 if you hiccup again’. I was so confused by the logic that I stopped hiccuping!!! But I don’t think it works more than once!

      However, sometimes you can’t stop them – I saw a documentary on TV a few years ago about a man who had been hiccuping for years! And still couldn’t stop! Must be horrible, I hate getting hiccups.

      I agree with Tim that drinking from the ‘wrong side’ of a glass of water can sometimes work, but once as I was trying to do this I hiccuped mid sip and got water all over me! Not ideal!

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