Hiccups can be annoying, particularly when they happen at an inopportune time.

Hiccups are caused when your diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle under your lungs that helps you breathe, becomes irritated and contracts. This sudden contraction causes your vocal cords to snap shut, producing the namesake “hic” noise.

“Hiccups are very common,” says Nichole Esteppe, a nurse practitioner at Tidelands Health Family Medicine at Myrtle Beach. “Most people experience them occasionally, and they usually go away on their own.”

Some common causes include:

• Eating or drinking too fast
• Drinking carbonated beverages
• Smoking or drinking alcohol
• Eating spicy foods

For many people, hiccups resolve after a few minutes; there’s no proven way to expedite this process. Home remedies like holding your breath or drinking water may help calm down your diaphragm – or may simply pass the time a bit quicker.

In some cases, continued hiccups may warrant medical attention.

“Sometimes hiccups can be related to a gastrointestinal or pulmonary issue or even a medication side effect,” Esteppe says. “If they last for longer than 48 hours, you should talk to your doctor.”

Ultimately, the best approach to dealing with routine hiccups may be to take steps to help prevent them.

“Slow down when you eat or drink,” Esteppe says. “Try to avoid swallowing too much air.”