The Science-Backed Way to Stop Hiccups: A 3-Breath Fix

Everyone has a favorite hiccup "cure":

• Hold your breath
• Drink from the far side of a glass
• Get scared by a friend
• Swallow a spoonful of sugar

Some of these sometimes work. Most are basically rituals.

There is, however, a mechanism-based, physiological technique that targets the actual nerve responsible for hiccups—and usually stops them in one or two tries.

What Actually Causes Hiccups?

Hiccups are caused by an involuntary spasm of the phrenic nerve, which:

• Emerges from the cervical spine (C3–C5)
• Controls the diaphragm—the main breathing muscle
• Also sends sensory signals from the diaphragm and nearby organs (like the liver) back to the brain

A hiccup is essentially:

1. A sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm →
2. Air rushes in →
3. The vocal cords snap shut → "hic"

If you want to stop hiccups, you want to:

• Interrupt the spasming pattern of the phrenic nerve
• Reset the diaphragm's activity

The 3-Inhale Hiccup Reset

Here's the technique:

1. Take a big inhale through your nose
2. Without exhaling, take a second inhale through your nose
3. Again without exhaling, take a third, tiny inhale through your nose
4. Hold that full breath for ~15–20 seconds
5. Then slowly exhale through your nose

It'll look and feel like:

Inhale… More inhale… Tiny top-off inhale… Hold… Slow exhale…

Yes, it feels weird. That's the point.

Why This Works

• Those three stacked inhales create an unusually strong, sustained contraction of the diaphragm
• The phrenic nerve fires in a pattern that's very different from the spasmodic hiccup firing
• After this intense activation, the phrenic nerve undergoes a kind of "reset," becoming less excitable for a bit
• The hiccup reflex loop is interrupted, and the spasms usually stop

If they don't stop after one round, you can safely try one more.

Step-by-Step Instructions

⚠️ Do not do this while driving, in water, or standing on something unstable (you may feel lightheaded if you push too hard).

1. Sit or stand safely
2. Exhale normally first
3. Inhale deeply through your nose (fill your lungs)
4. Take a second inhale through your nose (you'll feel some resistance)
5. Take a third tiny sniff through your nose (just a little more)
6. Hold for 15–20 seconds
7. Slowly exhale through your nose
8. Then wait and notice:
   • Have the hiccups stopped?
   • If not, try a second round.

Most people don't need more than that.

How It Compares to Other "Cures"

Breathing into a paper bag

• Increases CO2, which can sometimes influence breathing patterns
• But doesn't directly target the phrenic nerve spasm

Drinking from the far side of a glass

• Forces awkward posture and altered breathing
• Works sometimes—but it's a bit of a circus act

Getting scared

• Massive nervous system jolt can override the hiccup reflex…occasionally

The 3-inhale reset is different:

• Targets the specific nerve/muscle circuit involved
• Simple to reproduce
• Doesn't require props, friends, or weird water tricks

When Hiccups Might Be Something More

Occasional hiccups are normal.

But if you experience:

• Hiccups lasting more than 48 hours
• Hiccups that interfere with eating, drinking, or sleeping
• Hiccups accompanied by other worrying symptoms (chest pain, severe headache, etc.)

then it's time to talk with a medical professional. Persistent hiccups can, in rare cases, signal other underlying issues.

Save This for Later

Hiccups don't show up when it's convenient.

Bookmark or save this simple script:

1. Big nasal inhale
2. Second nasal inhale (on top)
3. Third tiny nasal inhale
4. Hold 15–20 seconds
5. Slow nasal exhale

It takes 30 seconds, looks slightly ridiculous, and is one of the few hiccup techniques grounded in actual nerve and muscle physiology.

About the Author: John Doe loves turning oddly specific physiological quirks (like hiccups) into simple, reliable tools you can use in daily life.