Why do I get the hiccups when I eat spicy food?

Question

It happens when the food (say, jalapeno peppers) touches a specific point in the back of my throat. Very strange.

I understand what people are saying about the diaphragm spasms etc., but there must be some kind of nerve at the back of my throat which acts like a trigger. Also, it isn't to do with me gulping air while I'm eating, because that would happen with all food, and not just spicy food. Also, if anything, I'm quite a slow eater!

Answer 1

Because the spices actually "bother" your throat.
And one way to get rid of the "bother" is to give an upchuck movement.

hence hiccups.

<3
stranger

Answer 2

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[verification needed].

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, drinking an excess of an alcoholic beverage, or electrolyte imbalance. 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.

Answer 3

I have to say "smo" that you are really grabbing for straws that arent' there. Carbonation does not cause hiccups, it causes only burps. It is irration of the diaphragm that causes hiccups. The sudden contraction and resulting rapid inhalation does produce the "hic" sound. Since the esophagus does run though the diaphram on its way to the stomach, it would make sense that the brain is interpretatingirriation of the nerves of the esophagus as the diaphragm as well. It would have to involve the phrenic nerve since it controls contraction of the diaphragm.

Answer 4

I get hiccups when I eat hot and sour soup unless I am very careful not to breath a lot when I am eating it. Gotta eat it the traditional way with the bowl right up to your mouth.
I think what is happening is you are gulping in air when you are eating the spicy food and that causes the hiccups.

Answer 5

All hiccoughs are, are when your body is releasing Carbonation (think: soda) that mixes with the oxygen. Spicy foods have LOADS of carbon dioxide. As for the point it touches, the back of your throat, that IS very strange but it's because there are two openings back there: one that leads to your stomach and the other that leads to your lungs. Some of the carbonation must leak into your lungs, thus, you hiccough.

Oh, and hiccoughing also happens when we take TOO much oxygen in, like when we are crying.

Best,
~*~Smo~*~

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

it is strange--a similar subject takes place to my husband whilst he eats rather spiced nutrition. i ask your self why? besides, uncertain if this could artwork for "rather spiced nutrition" hiccups, even though it works for me once I incredibly have regularly used hiccups. :) Take a great spoonful of gentle peanut butter and swallow it finished. needless to say you do no longer % to choke on it, so do no longer make the spoonful that huge. For some reason, it's going to form of get caught in the decrease back of your throat and additionally you could desire to swallow many times numerous situations to get it down. i think of the swallowing decrease back-to-decrease back has something to do with reversing your diaphragm.

Answer 8

Hiccups usually occur when u eat too quickly and I think when a person eats spicy food, there is a tendency to eat it fast!:)

Answer 9

part to be blame is your DIAPragm..this is the muscle at the bottom of your chest and hiccups start here..sometimes got irritated when it happens it pulls down on a jerky way which makes you suck air into your throat suddenly,,when the air is rushing in your voice box you're a left a big hiccup
putting sugar under your tounge might work too..and the best thing is someone is jump out and scare if you're not expecting it..this is works believe me:)

Answer 10

I think this may be due to a condition called reflux. Drink a glass of milk, capsaicin the substance that makes chillis hot and that is unsettling your stomach is fat (not water) soluble so the heat and irritation will be reduced.