ALERT: HSE advice to people who suffer from hiccups and when to go to doctor

The HSE has issued advice to people who suffer hiccups and when they should go to their doctor.

The advice on the HSE website says "most people get hiccups" at some point and that they "usually only last a few minutes and go away without treatment."

However, some people suffer badly with the irritating symptom and sometimes they may require a trip to the GP.

The HSE says: "Hiccups usually go away on their own. But there are things you can try to stop or prevent hiccups. These things may not work for everyone:

Do

breathe into a paper bag - do not put the bag over your head

pull your knees up to your chest and lean forward

sip very cold water

swallow some granulated sugar

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bite on a lemon

take a teaspoon of vinegar

hold your breath for a short time

Don't

do not drink alcoholic, fizzy or hot drinks

do not chew gum or smoke - these can cause you to swallow air

do not eat spicy food

do not eat food very quickly

do not eat or drink something very cold immediately after something hot

They explained why we get hiccups and causes include: eating and drinking; stress; strong emotions, such as excitement.

The HSE admits: "In rare cases, hiccups can last longer than a few minutes. Hiccups that last longer than 2 days can be caused by a health condition or certain medicines."

The advice adds: "Contact your GP if your hiccups: last longer than two days or come back very often and affect your life."

What treatment can a GP provide?

"Your GP can check if a health condition or medicine causes your hiccups. If they find a cause, they may recommend:

treatment for the condition
changing your medicine

Your GP may prescribe a medicine called chlorpromazine if:

your hiccups last longer than two days
there is no obvious cause

"But not everyone can take chlorpromazine. In rare cases, they may prescribe baclofen," the HSE concludes.