Everyone gets hiccups, but everyone has a different way to stop them. The NHS says hiccups should only last a few minutes, and lists six things to try — breathing into a paper bag, sipping ice-cold water, swallowing sugar and so on — while adding that “there’s no evidence that they work for everyone”. The line for seeing a doctor is 48 hours. This sets out the NHS page “Hiccups”.
1. They usually last a few minutes. Often there is no obvious reason, the page says.
2. The six methods are things to try. There is no evidence they work for everyone.
3. Lasting over 48 hours? See a GP. The same if they keep coming back and affect your life.
Six things to try — the NHS list
| Method | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Paper bag | Breathe into a paper bag — do not put it over your head | Paper, not plastic |
| Knees to chest | Pull your knees up to your chest and lean forward | A curled-up position |
| Ice-cold water | Sip ice-cold water | Sips, not gulps |
| Sugar | Swallow some granulated sugar | No amount given |
| Lemon or vinegar | Bite on a lemon or taste vinegar | A strong sour taste |
| Hold your breath | Hold your breath for a short time | Not for long |
The NHS puts “there’s no evidence that they work for everyone” before this list. It is a list of things worth trying, not a ranking of what works (our reading). The page gives no seconds or counts, so we give none.
Why they happen
The NHS says there is often no obvious reason for hiccups. Some people find these can trigger them:
- Stress
- Strong emotions such as excitement
- Eating or drinking
In rare cases, hiccups lasting longer than 48 hours can be due to a medical condition or a medicine you are taking.
When to see a doctor — 48 hours
| Situation | NHS view | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Stop within minutes | Ordinary hiccups | Try the six methods, or wait |
| Last over 48 hours (2 days) | See a GP (not urgent) | Local GP |
| Come back very often and affect your life | See a GP (not urgent) | Local GP |
Choosing between an emergency room and a local clinic is covered in ER or local clinic.
Treatment
Treating the underlying condition or changing your medicine should stop the hiccups, the page says. If there is no obvious cause, a GP might prescribe chlorpromazine, but it does not work for everyone.
How a US source puts it — MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, describes a hiccup as an unintentional movement (spasm) of the diaphragm, the muscle at the base of the lungs, and says the closing of the vocal cords produces the distinctive sound.
| Item | NHS | MedlinePlus |
|---|---|---|
| Do the methods work? | No evidence they work for everyone | No sure way to stop hiccups |
| Sugar | Swallow some granulated sugar | Eat a teaspoon (4 grams) of sugar |
| Water | Sip ice-cold water | Drink a glass of cold water |
| Causes named | Stress, strong emotions, eating or drinking | Abdominal surgery, conditions irritating the diaphragm nerves, hot and spicy food or drink, harmful fumes, stroke or brain tumour |
| When to get care | Longer than 48 hours | More than a few days |
The two agencies differ slightly — 48 hours versus a few days. This page leads with the NHS’s 48 hours because it is a clear number (the order we chose).
Checklist
- ☐ Give it a few minutes — they usually stop
- ☐ Paper bag (not over your head), knees to chest, sips of ice-cold water, sugar, lemon or vinegar, a short breath-hold
- ☐ Over 48 hours? See a GP
- ☐ Keep coming back and affecting your life? See a GP
- ☐ Think about any new medicine you have started
Questions that remain
Does drinking water stop them?
The NHS list says to sip ice-cold water. How much water to drink in a day is in daily water intake.
What about babies?
The page does not cover babies, so we say nothing about them.
Sources
- NHS — Hiccups — original (page last reviewed 23 June 2023, next review due 23 June 2026 — still online past that date; checked 12 October 2026). A few minutes, six methods, no evidence for everyone, stress, emotions and eating or drinking, 48 hours, frequent recurrence, chlorpromazine.
- MedlinePlus — Hiccups — original (review date 1 January 2025; checked 12 October 2026). Diaphragm spasm and vocal cords, five causes, paper bag, a glass of cold water, a teaspoon (4 grams) of sugar, holding your breath, a few days.
- Not read. Korean agencies’ hiccup guidance; sources on hiccups in babies.
- Added by us. The “worth noting” column.
Where to check further
- Your medicine leaflet — the side effects section.
Written 12 October 2026. The content follows the NHS and MedlinePlus originals; the glosses are ours.