why does a person get hiccups?

Question

why is biological cause behind hiccups?

what is the biological reason behind hiccups?

Answer 1

It's a muscle spasm in the diaphram which causes hiccups.

Answer 2

Scientists are not really sure but read this!

A hiccup or hiccough (generally pronounced "HICK-cup" (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. The term singultus is becoming more popular as this condition is being recognized as a significant performance issue in the 21st century, with an increased emphasis on human communications.

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 and certain kidney disease. It is reported that 30% of chemotherapy patients suffer singultus as a side effect to treatment. (American Cancer Society)

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 fetuses 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. Additionally, its extraordinary and complex remedies also make it harder for any scientists to find out the cause.

Answer 3

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 fetuses 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. More research is required to ascertain their true nature, origins, and purpose, if any. Additionally, its extraordinary and complex remedies also make it harder for any scientists to find out the cause

Medical treatment

Referred to as singultus, hiccups are treated medically only in severe and persistent (termed "intractable") cases. Haloperidol (Haldol, an anti-psychotic and sedative), metoclopramide (Reglan, a gastrointestinal stimulant), and chlorpromazine (Thorazine, an anti-psychotic with strong sedative effects) are used in cases of intractable hiccups. In severe or resistant cases, baclofen (an anti-spasmodic) is sometimes required to suppress hiccups. Effective treatment with sedatives often requires a dose that either renders the person unconscious or highly lethargic. Hence, medicating singultus is done short-term and is not a situation where the affected individual could continue with normal life activities while taking the medication.

The New York Times reports that Dr. Bryan R. Payne, a neurosurgeon at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, has had some success with an experimental new procedure in which a vagus nerve stimulator is implanted in the upper chest of patients with an intractable case of hiccups. "It sends rhythmic bursts of electricity to the brain by way of the vagus nerve, which passes through the neck. The Food and Drug Administration approved the vagus nerve stimulator in 1997 as a way to control seizures in some patients with epilepsy. In 2005, the agency endorsed the use of the stimulator as a treatment of last resort for people with severe depression"

Answer 4

A hiccup is a 'spasm' of our Diaphram muscle. It's like having a calf cramp after soccer or something :) Your Diaphram is a muscle and it 'keeps you breathing' and yep, even that muscle has an occasional hiccup/spasm. :) Nothing to worry about.

Answer 5

A person gets hiccups if the diaphram gets disturbed

Answer 6

Hello my friend A to Z of Hiccups or u :) pls read carefully :)

http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/ut1404.asp

Answer 7

a person gets hiccupps if
one of the organism of the throat oesophagus and the tougue are
burning due to the chili powder or due to spicy food which stimulates some of the organisms through which we feel the sensation of hicuups and we get the hicupps

Answer 8

Spasms of the diaphragm

Answer 9

your body does not get enough air into the lungs so your body thinks the only way to get rid of them is to take in air quick

Answer 10

I wish I knew because every time I eat I get them.