Hiccups are sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle.
According to the NHS, there is often no obvious reason why you get them, but some people find certain things trigger their hiccups, such as stress, strong emotions, like excitement, eating and drinking.
Usually, hiccups disappear within a few minutes, but for those with less patience, many people have come to find their own cures over time.
Techniques include breathing into a paper bad (but not putting it over your head), sipping ice-cold water, and swallowing some granulated sugar.
While there is no evidence these methods work for everyone, another one to try is biting on a lemon.
If you don’t have a lemon handy, you could also try a taste of vinegar.
In rare cases, hiccups may last longer than 48 hours. If this happens it could be due to a medical condition or a medicine you’re taking.
The NHS says if your hiccups last longer than 48 hours or come back very often and are affecting your life, you should see a GP.
The health body adds: “Your GP will want to find out if your hiccups are caused by a health condition or medication you’re taking – treating the condition or changing your medicine should stop your hiccups.
“If there’s no obvious cause, they might be able to prescribe medicine to treat your hiccups. This doesn’t work for everyone.”
Another health problem which isn’t contagious or harmful, but can be embarrassing, is dandruff.
More than 11 million people in the UK have it, according to estimates.
Our skin is constantly producing new skin cells and shedding old cells to stay healthy. Dandruff occurs when this cycle of skin renewal speeds up, leading to patches of dead skin forming on the scalp that flake into the hair.
But it isn’t caused by poor hygiene, although it may be more obvious if you don’t wash your hair regularly.
There are many effective anti-dandruff shampoos on the market. For the best results, choose a shampoo containing one of the following ingredients: Zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, selenium sulphide (or selenium sulfide), ketoconazole, or coal tar.
“It’s particularly important to leave the shampoo in your hair for at least five minutes before washing it out,” the NHS recommends.
You should use the shampoo for a full month to see if your dandruff improves, and you might need to try more than one to find what works for you.
Once you’ve found one that eases your symptoms, keep using it regularly. “You may be able to use the shampoo less often once your symptoms improve, but your dandruff will probably come back if you stop using it completely.”
If shampoos don’t clear up symptoms, your GP can prescribe a stronger treatment, such as medication that contains salicylic acid in combination with a steroid lotion or shampoo.
The NHS advises speaking to your doctor if your dandruff is severe, and your scalp is very itchy, red or swollen, as it could be a sign of another illness.
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