Hiccups: Information for patients and carers

Hiccups are an irritating symptom and can be painful and disturb sleep

These techniques are recommended during a bout of hiccups:

  • Breath holding
  • The Valsalva manoeuvre:
    • Inhale deeply and then hold your breath
    • Imagine that the chest and stomach muscles are very tight and bear down as though straining to initiate a bowel movement
    • Hold this position for a short time, usually about 10 seconds
  • Breathing into a paper bag
  • Sipping iced water
  • Compressing the diaphragm by pulling the knees up to the chest
  • Swallowing water while closing the nose

Other non drug measures:

  • Pharyngeal stimulation / palatal massage- Rub the back of your palate with your index finger - as far back as possible without causing gagging. This is often effective at least temporarily

When to seek medical help

If your hiccups persist for more than 48 hours you can ask your doctor to consider medication

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Community Palliative Care Team - based at Meadow House Hospice
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Community Palliative Care Team - based at Meadow House Hospice

T. 020 8967 5179

W. http://meadowhouse.lnwh.nhs.uk/our-services/community-team/

The Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse Team provides advice and visiting to palliative care patients in Ealing and Hounslow. The team are based at Meadow House Hospice.

The team will visit patients with progressive life limiting illness in their own homes. They provide specialist advice around pain and symptom control and support for patients, their families, and carers during the last stages of illness. They also support patients wishing to die at home through coordination with GPs and hospital teams.

The team is comprised of medical consultants, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, a bereavement support officer and a patient and carer advocacy worker

The team can be contacted for referrals Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Between Monday to Friday 5.00pm and 8.30am, the Out of Hours Telephone Advice line 020 8102 5000 takes calls. Weekends and Bank Holidays 5.00pm to 9.00am.

Referral form for clinician use only.

Community Specialist Palliative Care Referral Form V4 (DOCX)

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15th February 2023

Hiccups: Information for clinicians

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