Explain Hiccups

Almost everyone has experienced a hiccup at one time or another. For most people, it is merely a bothersome and sometimes embarrassing occurrence. Unfortunately, some hiccups can last for a while and can be quite uncomfortable.

Significance

• A hiccup is the result of a spasm in the diaphragm that occurs several times a minute. It is usually the result of air rushing into the lungs while the back flap of the tongue (the epiglottis) tries to close. A hiccup is an involuntary action.

Causes

• Eating too much, drinking carbonated beverages, drinking through a straw, chewing gum and swallowing air can cause hiccups. Some illnesses such as epilepsy, diabetes, a skull fracture, a bowel obstruction, meningitis, tuberculosis and ulcerative colitis can also cause hiccups.

Help

• Most hiccups resolve themselves without any help or intervention. Chronic hiccups may need medical attention. Many home remedies exist to speed up the duration of hiccups.

Time

• If a person can stop a hiccup right way, chances are they are in the clear. If a person hiccups more than seven times in row, chances are that they will last a while. While experiencing a bout of the hiccups, a person will hiccup 63 times or more.

Why We Hiccup

• There is no real benefit to hiccuping and why we hiccup remains a mystery, as hiccups serve no function. Hiccups are simply an accidental reflex triggered by an outside stimulus.

Home Remedies

• Some home remedies for hiccups include taking a gulp of water, tilting back your head, pinching your nose and swallowing the water. Some people eat a tablespoon of peanut butter, force a burp as they hiccup or swallow a spoonful of sugar with a dash of vinegar to try and stop hiccups.