Scaring away hiccups, Scaring Away Hiccups- Scaring the hiccups away?. There are multiple home remedies revolving around getting rid of hiccups. Some, like standing on your head while drinking water, seem a little far-fetched. But scaring the hiccups away? This is probably one of the most well-known cures for hiccups, but is it a fact or myth?

Hiccups are caused by a spasm in the diaphragm. This involuntary movement causes the vocal chords to quickly close. This is what makes the hiccup sound. They can be caused by everyday things, like eating too quickly, taking too big of bites, or eating spicy foods.

They may also be caused by medical conditions, like abdominal surgery or pneumonia. Hiccups aren't serious, and most often go away on their own. They can, however, be extremely annoying, hence the numerous crazy techniques for getting rid of them.

Scaring someone to get rid of hiccups actually makes sense. When one is truly scared, he or she may gasp or yell, sucking in or swallowing air. This may very well interrupt the pattern of spasms in the diaphragm, acting as sort of a "restart" button and stopping the hiccups. It obviously may not work for everyone, since people react differently when being frightened.

Other tried and true remedies for hiccups include eating very sour or very sweet (honey) foods. An infant with the hiccups may be helped by dipping your finger in sugar and letting them suck it off (don't use honey for babies under a year old). Holding your breath, then swallowing while you exhale may also help to stop the spasms in your diaphragm.

There are literally hundreds of "cures" for the hiccups floating around the Internet. Try drinking water while standing on your head if you must. Try them all if you think you need to. But if all else fails, do the only thing actually proven to work--just wait it out.

Most hiccups stop on their own within five minutes. Find something to take your mind off the annoying spasms, and they will most likely be gone before you even realize it.