Hiccup triggers usually involve your stomach, esophagus, or a nerve. Dry foods and alcohol can cause hiccups in multiple ways. If your symptoms last longer than 2 days, you may need medical attention.
You get hiccups when your diaphragm spasms, which makes it and the muscles between your ribs (called intercostal muscles) suddenly tighten up. This rapidly pulls air into your lungs.
In a fraction of a second, the epiglottis slams shut, blocking your airway to keep food from getting into your lungs. The rapid closure makes the characteristic sound of a hiccup.
The diaphragm is a flat muscle separating your lungs from your abdomen. Along with the intercostal muscles, the diaphragm is important for breathing. Anything that signals your diaphragm to suddenly spasm can cause hiccups. It’s an involuntary action. You have no control over it.
Things that irritate your stomach or cause it to rapidly expand commonly trigger hiccups. This includes the things you eat as well as how much and how fast you eat.
Anything that causes your stomach to become bigger than usual (distension) can trigger hiccups. Your stomach lies right underneath your diaphragm on your left side. It’s possible that distension triggers hiccups by pressing on or irritating your diaphragm.
Crunchy, crispy pork rinds are a tasty low-carb snack. But for some folks, they come with an annoying side effect – the hiccups! If you’ve ever found yourself suddenly hiccupping after munching on pork rinds, you’re definitely not alone. But what causes this unexpected reaction? Let’s explore.
The Culprits Behind Pork Rind Hiccups
There are a few components of pork rinds that can trigger hiccups in susceptible individuals:
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Carbonation – Many pork rinds are puffed up with carbon dioxide gas. Consuming fizzy drinks and foods can cause hiccups due to stomach distension.
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Rapid eating – Inhaling pork rinds can introduce air into the esophagus and lead to hiccups Eating too fast doesn’t allow you to burp up excess air
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Salt content – Pork rinds are very salty, and studies show salt can stimulate the vagus nerve, which innervates the diaphragm muscle responsible for hiccups.
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Spicy flavors – Some pork rinds contain chili bbq, and other piquant spices. These can irritate the esophagus and prompt hiccups.
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MSG – Monosodium glutamate is an additive in some pork rinds that may increase gastric distress
Why Do Only Some People Get Hiccups from Pork Rinds?
We don’t all react the same way to foods. Some people have greater sensitivity in their vagus nerves, more irritable esophagi, or faster eating habits that make them more prone to hiccups from carbonated, salty, spicy foods like pork rinds.
Genetics, health conditions, and anatomy differences can make certain individuals more susceptible to hiccup triggers than others when eating and drinking. Kids in particular may gulp down air more quickly, making them more hiccup-prone.
If you don’t get hiccups from pork rinds while your friend does, your nerves and digestive system likely handle the stimulus differently. Don’t worry – you aren’t missing out on anything fun!
Tips to Prevent Pork Rind Hiccups
If you want to keep enjoying pork rinds without the pesky hiccupping, here are some tips and tricks:
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Choose plain pork rind flavors without spicy seasonings
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Opt for baked vs. fried pork rinds to reduce carbonation
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Slow down and chew each bite thoroughly before swallowing
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Drink water regularly while eating to help push food down
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Avoid big servings of pork rinds in one sitting
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Eat a small spoonful of peanut butter to help stop hiccups
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Suck on a lemon slice – the tartness can halt hiccups
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Plug your ears while eating to alter vagus nerve signals
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Take slow deep breaths when you feel hiccups coming on
Making some simple tweaks to how you select and eat pork rinds can reduce unwanted hiccups.
When Hiccups Become Problematic
Occasional hiccups from pork rinds are harmless. But if they become prolonged or severe, it could signal an underlying condition. See your doctor if you experience:
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Intractable hiccups lasting over 48 hours
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Hiccups that prevent eating or sleeping
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Frequent hiccup episodes with no apparent cause
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Hiccups accompanied by severe pain, bleeding, or weight loss
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Hiccups only relieved by medication interventions
Persistent hiccups can sometimes result from gastrointestinal disorders, nerve damage, brain lesions, and other conditions requiring diagnosis and treatment. It’s important to rule out serious causes.
The Bottom Line
For most of us, pork rind hiccups are just an odd but temporary annoyance. While the fizziness and saltiness of pork rinds stimulates the vagus nerve and diaphragm, causing hiccups for some, they aren’t harmful or dangerous. Just sip some water and breathe slowly through the spasms.
However, if you are extremely prone to hiccups from pork rinds or find them excessive, choose plainer flavors, eat slower, and avoid big portions. With a few minor adjustments, you can keep enjoying these crunchy low-carb snacks, hiccup-free!
Temperature change in your esophagus
Things that irritate or suddenly change the temperature of your esophagus can also cause hiccups. This may be related to irritation or stimulation of the nerves that cause the diaphragm to contract.
The main nerves are the phrenic nerve and the vagus nerve. They reside near your esophagus, so food and liquid can stimulate them as you swallow. Irritants can include:
- very hot food
- spicy food
- acidic food
- very cold liquids
- alcohol
Other things besides food can irritate or stimulate the nerves that control your diaphragm, which can make you hiccup while you eat. Some of these things are:
- excitement
- emotional stress
- suddenly inhaling very cold air
Some things may cause hiccups in more than one way.
Eating dry food, such as bread
Dry food can simply tickle or irritate the back of your throat. Dry food is also more difficult to chew and swallow than soft or liquid foods. You may be swallowing bigger pieces, which can distend your stomach.
At the same time, you swallow more air when eating things that are difficult to chew. This can add to stomach distension.
Drinking alcohol
Drinking a lot of alcohol, especially beer, over a short time can distend the stomach. The carbonation in beer and other carbonated beverages like soda can add to distension, too. Alcohol can also be an irritant to your esophagus.
Hiccups will usually go away on their own.
Nothing has been proven to stop hiccups. However, there are some methods you can try to get rid of them quicker. Keep in mind these methods don’t always work. Common hiccup stoppers include the following:
- Breathe into a paper bag.
- Hold your breath for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Hug your knees while you lean forward.
- Use the Valsalva maneuver (bear down while holding your breath).
- Drink or gargle with water or ice water.
- Suck on a lemon.
- Relax and slow down your breathing to try to get a handle on it.
- Eat a teaspoon of white sugar.
- Drink hot water with honey in it.
- Have someone try to scare you.
It’s best to stay away from things that make your stomach swell or irritate your esophagus if you want to avoid getting hiccups. Avoid the following:
- acidic food
- alcohol
- carbonated beverages
- eating very quickly
- hot or spicy food
- overeating
- swallowing air while chewing
- talking while eating
- very cold liquids
Hiccups usually stop on their own within 48 hours.
According to a 2012 article, hiccups lasting from 48 hours to two months are called persistent hiccups. Hiccups that last more than two months are called intractable hiccups. They may also be called chronic hiccups.
Hiccups that won’t go away can be a sign of a serious illness, like a stroke, or a minor illness, like a sore throat. There are almost always other signs and symptoms of the underlying condition, though. This often makes it easier for your doctor to confirm a diagnosis or rule things out.
Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours in children and adults should be evaluated by a doctor.
If you have hiccups that last less than 48 hours, you probably don’t need to see a doctor unless they happen so often or are so bad that they get in the way of your daily life, like sleeping or eating.