Why Do You Get Hiccups When You Drink?
![Reframe App Logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60d10433104bca13abce2c13/6524611f0bc6ca7db5aea21b_logo.webp)
Hiccup! Hiccup! Hiccup! Ugh — it’s happening again. You just got home after a night out, and somehow you have hiccups again. All you can think is how hard it’s going to be to sleep if these hiccups don’t go away — and you’ll do anything to stop them.
Most of us have experienced hiccups at some point in our lives, and they can be hard to get rid of! Keep reading to learn about why we get hiccups, how we can stop them, why alcohol famously causes hiccups, and how to prevent another attack of drinking-related hiccups in the future.
Hiccups are an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is an organ below the lungs which separates the base of the chest from the abdomen and is essential for us to breathe. The diaphragm contracts rhythmically and continually to allow us to breathe.
When we inhale, our diaphragm contracts and flattens to create a vacuum effect that pulls air into the lungs. As we exhale, our diaphragm relaxes to help push air out of the lungs. The action of the diaphragm is controlled subconsciously by our brain. Aside from helping us breathe, the diaphragm also increases abdominal pressure so we can vomit, urinate, or pass bowel movements, and it puts pressure on the esophagus to prevent acid reflux.
Hiccups have inspired many superstitions over the years. Some believe that getting hiccups means someone is talking about or missing us. Others have claimed that hiccups are caused by elves or spirits! However, science tells us that hiccups occur when our diaphragm involuntarily spasms. During an episode of hiccups, our brain signals our diaphragm to forcefully move downward and contract, which causes air to get sucked into the back of our throat. As this happens, our vocal cords close and create a “hic” sound.
Hiccups are the result of the physical reaction in our diaphragm. The hiccup reflex starts with major nerve pathways from the diaphragm region (the phrenic and vagus nerves). From there, the information is processed in the midbrain, which is also responsible for several other reflexes. The midbrain then sends signals to widespread nerve pathways that control the muscles in the diaphragm and chest.
That’s quite the journey through our body! Let’s take a look at some different factors that can trigger the hiccup reflex.
Does alcohol cause us to hiccup? The short answer is yes, alcohol can lead to hiccups! Alcohol acts directly on our brain and central nervous system, making its way to every corner of our body and slowing down nerve signals. Drunk hiccups can directly result from changes to the nervous system and inhibition of signals in the brain or result indirectly by causing acid reflux and filling up our stomach with carbonation.
Whether we get alcohol hiccups or hiccups from other causes, they manifest in the same way. At best, they’re an annoyance — but they do have a dark side.
Depending on the duration, hiccups have different classifications.
Acute hiccups should go away on their own. Persistent hiccups and chronic hiccups typically require hospitalization. In the United States, approximately 4,000 people per year are hospitalized with problematic hiccups. If you have hiccups that last longer than 48 hours or are extremely painful, seek medical attention.
Persistent and chronic hiccups are rare but dangerous — they can interfere with eating, drinking, talking, breathing, sleeping, or cause significant pain. Risk factors include encephalitis, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain injury, tumors, diabetes, kidney disease, electrolyte imbalance, and damage to or irritation of the phrenic or vagus nerves.
Getting hiccups after drinking isn’t any different than getting hiccups any other time. However, if our hiccups are a response to alcohol’s depressant effect on our nervous system, the hiccups can persist until our body has processed all of the alcohol, which could take about an hour for every standard drink we’ve had.
Most of the time, hiccups will go away on their own. However, hiccups can be very annoying, and we might be willing to try almost anything to stop them. There are a lot of home remedies for hiccups that people swear by, but many of them are not backed by science.
There are a few science-backed strategies that may help relieve hiccups:
There are endless folk remedies for curing hiccups and for how to get rid of drunk hiccups specifically, but most of them are not backed by science. In most cases, time is the most reliable remedy.
The unfortunate truth is that when it comes to quick fixes for how to get rid of hiccups when drunk, there’s no shortcut. In fact, due to alcohol’s interference with the central nervous system, drunk hiccups could last even longer than sober hiccups.
Don’t forget: if you have hiccups for longer than 48 hours, seek medical attention to check for any underlying causes and get some much-needed relief.
Getting rid of drunk hiccups may be just a game of time, but there are proven ways to avoid hiccups in the first place. Let’s look at a few:
Sometimes, hiccups are an unavoidable part of life. However, alcohol is one avoidable factor! There are many health benefits to living alcohol-free or cutting back on alcohol, and eliminating hiccups from drinking is only the beginning!
1. Help! I have hiccups from drinking! Do you have advice for how to get rid of alcohol hiccups?
Sucking on a lemon, holding your breath, sitting with your knees to chest, gargling or sipping cold water, and swallowing a spoonful of sugar are a few tricks for getting rid of hiccups. Unfortunately, these quick fixes aren’t guaranteed to work: the best solution is time.
2. How long do drunk hiccups last?
Most cases of hiccups are acute or transient hiccups, which should last for only a few minutes to a couple of hours. An episode of hiccups lasting longer than 48 hours requires medical attention.
3. Why do you get hiccups when drinking alcohol?
Alcohol can induce hiccups from distending our stomachs, causing acid reflux, or inhibiting communication in our central nervous system.
4. Do any hiccup cures actually work?
Hiccup cures are not usually backed by science, so it’s not guaranteed they’ll work. Most of the time, hiccup cures are anecdotal accounts for things that worked for people in the past. The best cure is time.
5. When should hiccups be a concern?
If you have had hiccups for more than two days or 48 hours, you should seek medical attention. Hiccups should also be treated by a doctor if they are interfering with sleeping, eating, or hydrating, or if they are causing extreme pain.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
And that’s not all! Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
The Reframe app is free for 7 days, so you don’t have anything to lose by trying it. Are you ready to feel empowered and discover life beyond alcohol? Then download our app through the App Store or Google Play today!
Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being.