What causes people to hiccup?

Question

I always wondered what causes people to do this.
Any suggestions on how to stop it?

Answer 1

Hiccups are gulping sounds caused by involuntary spasms of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen and helps with breathing. Hiccups can be triggered if you eat too much or too fast, consume very hot or cold foods and beverages, or drink carbonated beverages. Other causes include cold showers, entering or leaving a hot or cold room, sudden excitement, and stress.
Hiccups are not a serious medical condition and usually disappear on their own within a few minutes. If they last longer than 24 hours, hiccups may be a sign of another condition or injury. You should see your health care provider if you experience prolonged hiccuping.

Home remedies are usually the primary treatment for hiccups, although no one is really sure how well they work. Hiccup home remedies include sneezing, being suddenly frightened, holding your breath, gargling, drinking pineapple juice, drinking water rapidly, sipping ice water, or swallowing dry granulated sugar. These activities may help by altering breathing patterns.

Doctors may recommend prescription medicines to treat hiccups that last longer than a day. Drugs that may help include Thorazine (generic name chlorpromazine), Lioresal (baclofen), Reglan (metoclopramide), Depakote (valproic acid), and Procardia (nifedipine). Researchers believe that these medicines work by affecting nerves in the diaphragm that are involved in causing spasms.

Answer 2

"Hic!" You've just hiccuped for what seems like the tenth time since you finished your big dinner. Wonder where these funny noises are coming from? The part to blame is your diaphragm (say: die-uh-fram). This is a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of your chest, and all hiccups start here.

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.

You've probably heard lots of suggestions for how to get rid of hiccups, and maybe you've even tried a few. Holding your breath and counting to 10 is one way some people can get rid of their hiccups. Other people say that drinking from the "wrong" side of a glass of water is the way to become hiccup-free.

Putting sugar under your tongue might work, too. And maybe the most famous treatment - having someone jump out and scare you when you're not expecting it - helps some people wave good-bye to their hiccups. Boo!

Answer 3

well now you know what it his heres a trick that has yet to fail anyone i know

CURING HICCUPS!!!

I can't remember but you raise you left (i think) if not try right and take 3 to 4 huge gulps of any beverage.. and say bye bye.. if its not left its right.. but its because the diagram and all this helps readjust it and solve the problem.. and its always worked and its quite easy.. esp when you have those painful hiccups!!

Answer 4

Hiccups are caused by islamic fundamentalist terrorism. There is no stopping it.

Answer 5

Hiccups are caused when your diaphragm starts to spasm, sometime drinking water will help.

Answer 6

its a muscle spasm... and my mom was a bar tender... and this is the best sure yet... get a medium glass of water, get a clean dishrag.. fold the dishrag in half and place it ontop of the glass, exhale comepletly and drink for as long as you can.. works everytime for me;)

Answer 7

I hv forgotten wat causes it , but I do know how to stop it. Try drinking a glass of warn water. Or stop your breathe for as long as you can.

Answer 8

irregular breathing

Answer 9

diaphram spasm.

Answer 10

eating too fast