Dear Dr. Gott: I’ve read many “cures” for hiccups in your column. I remember how my mother taught me to cure my younger siblings of hiccups when they were babies by touching the tip of the tongue with a little sugar. This would cause a sharp intake of breath, and that seemed to do the trick. Later I learned about scaring someone to stop the hiccups, then about drinking water while holding the ears, etc.

all of these seem to have one thing in common — a deliberate interruption of the breathing pattern. so why all the drama? You don’t need sugar, water or a third person to intervene when using my preferred method.

Simply take a deep breath and slowly count to 10 (one one-thousand, and so on). If you hiccup during the counting, stop and start all over again. most of the time, this works the first time I do it. If I hiccup during the count, I start over. I’ve never had to do it a third time.

Dear Reader: Hiccups are caused by abnormal contractions of the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. They are most commonly triggered by eating too much, sudden temperature changes, emotional stress or excitement, drinking carbonated beverages or too much alcohol.

In most instances hiccups are benign and disappear in a matter of minutes or an hour or two. sometimes they can last for days. Hiccups that last more than 48 hours should be brought to the attention of a physician. They may be the result of nerve damage or irritation such as a sore throat, acid reflux, something touching the eardrum, a tumor, goiter or cyst in the neck. Another possibility is a central nervous system disorder such as meningitis, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, stroke or a traumatic brain injury. other triggers include a metabolic disorder or drug use, diabetes, kidney failure, an electrolyte imbalance, anesthesia, the use of steroids, tranquilizers, barbiturates or alcoholism.

Dear Dr. Gott: I experience cramping in the legs, thighs and toes, and even my feet turn to the side at times. I have found that when this happens, my lower back and hips are out of alignment. I visit my chiropractor and the cramping stops. I think this is worth a try for those who experience similar cramping rather than taking medication. You have listed other cramping remedies in your column, but none of them have worked for me. I hope my suggestion will help others as much as it has helped me.

Dear Reader: Cramping in the legs and feet can occur when one or more of the spinal vertebrae or discs push against the spinal cord or surrounding nerves. Pain, weakness, numbness and tingling are more common symptoms, however.

Chiropractic manipulation and techniques can be beneficial in relieving or improving symptoms in many cases of back and hip pain. My only concern is that individuals who wish to try this ensure they are seeing a reputable practitioner since, rarely, damage can be done if certain techniques and maneuvers aren’t performed correctly.

Write to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th floor, New York, N.Y. 10016.