Why do we have hiccoughs (hiccups)?

Answer 1

I get hiccoughs lots, some people have given you proper science answers, but I'll tell you that it's the hiccough fairy, she collects hiccoughs from lots of people, that's why some peoples hiccoughs sound silly (well Mr.Codswallop says mine sound silly), she likes to collect a variety of sounds, her name is Fayanna, she is so fast that it can be tricky to see her but she tickles your insides and it makes a hiccough.

Answer 2

A hiccup or hiccough (generally pronounced "HICK-up" (IPA: /ˈhɪ.kəp/) independent of the spelling) is an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm; typically this repeats several times a minute. The sudden rush of air into the lungs causes the glottis to close, creating the "hic" listen (help·info) noise. A bout of hiccups generally resolves by itself, although many home remedies are in circulation to shorten the duration, and medication is occasionally necessary. By extension, the term "hiccup" is also used to describe a small and unrepeated aberration in an otherwise consistent pattern. The medical term is singultus.

While many cases develop spontaneously, hiccups are known to develop often in specific situations, such as eating too quickly, taking a cold drink while eating a hot meal, eating very hot or spicy food, laughing vigorously or coughing, or drinking an excess of an alcoholic beverage. Hiccups may be caused by pressure to the phrenic nerve by other anatomical structures, or rarely by tumors.

It is still unclear to scientists exactly why hiccups occur, particularly because it doesn't seem to give us any specific benefit. Some speculation exists that hiccups are a remnant of a bodily function that has been phased out by evolution, such as the move from aquatic gilled creatures to land animals. Ultrasounds have also shown that unborn foetuses experience hiccups. Some suggested hypotheses include hiccups as a possible muscle exercise for the child's respiratory system prior to birth or as a preventive measure to keep amniotic fluid from entering the lungs[1]. More research is required to ascertain their true nature, origins, and purpose, if any.

Answer 3

The problem is your diaphragm. The diaphragm almost always works perfectly. When you inhale, it pulls down to help pull air into the lungs. When you exhale, it pushes up to help push air out of the lungs. But sometimes the diaphragm becomes irritated. When this happens, it pulls down in a jerky way, which makes you suck air into your throat suddenly. When the air rushing in hits your voice box, you're left with a big hiccup.

Some things that irritate the diaphragm are eating too quickly or too much, an irritation in the stomach or the throat, or feeling nervous or excited. Almost all cases of the hiccups last only a few minutes. Some cases of the hiccups can last for days or weeks, but this is very unusual, and it's usually a sign of another medical problem.

Answer 4

Because air gets trapped inside us. It usually happens when we have taken in too much air. It's like the opposite of yawning. You yawn when you don't get enough oxygen and you hiccough when you get too much.

Answer 5

Sometimes the air we breath just goes down the wrong bit, then we get hiccoughs. :)

Answer 6

The diaphragm under your lungs, a large muscle that pulls in and pushes out air, some times has muscle spasms.

Answer 7

i dunno...but i once saw a show about this young guy who had a rare disease and had the hiccups for over two years straight...now everytime i get them i get scared that that'll happen to me lol

Answer 8

It is an spasm of the diaphragm that is meant to clear the esophagus when it senses it is blocked or irritated.

Answer 9

Trapped air in our esophagus, or stomach usually from eating something without washing it down with coffe, tea, or milk, or water.

Answer 10

Maybe sometimes the air in your lungs can't decide whether it wants to go in or out. LOL