Credits: Social Media
Simple tip to stop hiccups ‘almost immediately’ with lemon or lime juice
Hiccups are one of the most annoying things, but they will never bother you again after you learn this hack.
Forget holding your breath or drinking water upside down, all you actually need is some lemon juice or lime juice.
Stop hiccups with lemon or lime juice
Hiccups are involuntary sounds made when the diaphragm spasms, MedlinePlus explains. They are usually harmless and resolve by themselves after a few minutes, but this hack could help get rid of them quicker.
On TikTok, cardiac surgeon Dr. Jeremy London explained that dripping a few drops of lemon or lime juice onto the back of your throat should stop the hiccups “almost immediately”. This could be fresh juice from the fruit or the kind you get in a bottle, it doesn’t really matter.
It’s not exactly clear why it stops hiccups, but it could be due to stimulation of the vagus nerve which runs from the brain to the diaphragm, he explained. The juice drip resets the sensory input from the diaphragm, which potentially stops the hiccups.
Lemon or lime juice could also cure hiccups by activating muscles in the back of the throat or the oesophagus. It could be down to the sudden change in PH in the throat when the juice drops too – or it could just be a simple distraction that makes them stop.
More possible ways to stop hiccups
The NHS lists biting on a lemon as one of the possible ways to stop hiccups, but there are more:
- Breathe into a paper bag
- 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
However, it’s important to note there is no proven method to cure hiccups and these things might not work for everyone. Certain things can trigger hiccups, such as stress, strong emotions like excitement and eating or drinking.
If you do have hiccups, the NHS says not to drink alcoholic, fizzy or hot drinks, chew gum or smoke, as they all cause you to swallow air. Also avoid spicy food, eating food very quickly or eating something very cold immediately after something hot.
You should see a doctor if your hiccups last longer than 48 hours, come back very often or are affecting your life.
Dr. Jeremy London is a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon who received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He boasts more than 31 years of experience and has his own practice in Savannah, Georgia.
