Dr Louisa Dillner's guide to . . . curing hiccups

It's more than old wives' tales

Hiccups are the sounds made when the diaphragm and the muscles you breathe in with contract, accompanied by your vocal cords snapping shut afterwards. They are caused by eating too fast, eating something too hot or spicy, laughing, sobbing or coughing uncontrollably, alcohol, fizzy drinks and, rarely, by serious medical conditions.

✤ An editorial in the BMJ says that continuing hiccups cause fatigue, dehydration and weight loss. If someone can't stop after 24 hours, don't just laugh at them.

✤ There are more than 100 cures including prayers to St Jude, patron saint of lost causes. Common cures interrupt the breathing rhythm; drinking cool water quickly, holding your breath, getting someone to scare you. Others include eating a teaspoon of peanut butter, dry bread or sucking a lime. But they usually just stop.

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