Hiccups can be troublesome, and if drinking lots of water or holding your breath don’t seem to work, this 2003-patented hiccup treatment might help. For persistent hiccups that last for 48 hours or more, you can supposedly have them zapped away with a small electric shock. While drinking water, the electrodes placed along a metal rod will be used to shock your vagus and phrenic nerves to stop the hiccup.