Why do we get hiccups?
370352
Hiccups are caused by the diaphragm spasming.  Try holding your breath or forcing air down to help stop the spasm
215358
this a no fail way to get rid of the hiccups \nplace a pencil in your mouth to where you are biting it in the middle of the pencil and then just drink some water its hard to drink but it will get rid of them
263671
While standing, hold your breathe, and try to touch your toe and stay in that position as long as you can stand it. \n\nSeveral times until hiccups dissapear. It really works!
365068
hiccups are caused when your body breathes and swallows at the same time causing  spasms (hiccups)
461204
Our sinuses, ears nose and eyes are all connected. So when you cry you will experience symptoms in one or sometimes all of these areas. As for the hiccups it is because we forget to breathe properly while upset. We either hold our breath or hyperventilate.
294950
A sudden contraction or spasm of the diaphragm and the muscles between the ribs makes you inhale quickly and involuntarily. It ends with "glottic closure" — the space in the throat near the vocal cords snaps shut, producing the typical sound. In most cases, only one of the two sides of the diaphragm is involved; it is left-sided in 80% of cases. \nMost likely hiccups are a reflex. Nerves inside the chest send signals to the diaphragm and muscles between the ribs to spontaneously contract during normal breathing. This "hiccup reflex" may be set off by many triggers, including:\n\nEmotional stress or excitement \nStretching of the stomach, as may occur after overeating, drinking carbonated beverages, or swallowing air \nAbrupt changes in the temperature (as with drinking a hot beverage) \nAlcohol binging \nSmoking
454186
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" 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.\n\n-Sudden shock or alarm. The resulting adrenaline rush will usually cure hiccups; a common cure is to suddenly startle or shout at the sufferer - this only works if they have no idea it's coming. \n-In babies, hiccups are usually immediately stopped by the suckling reflex, either by breastfeeding or simply by insertion of a finger, bottle teat or dummy into the baby's mouth. \n-For some, throwing up or vomiting the contents in one's stomach. \nA few people have the ability to stop hiccupping by simply choosing to do so. This brings forward interesting implications regarding voluntary control of various body functions.\n\nReferred 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 GI 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 work and school activities while taking the medication.\n\nThe 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. Last year, the agency endorsed the use of the stimulator as a treatment of last resort for people with severe depression"
440595
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.\n\nSome 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.
576346
THere isnt a scientific way to get rid of them. But some folk remedies are scaring people, eating a tablespoon of white sugar, or breathing in a paper bag. Hiccups are sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle. As the muscle contracts repeatedly, the opening between your vocal cords snaps shut to check the inflow of air and makes the hiccup sound. Irritation of the nerves that extend from the neck to the chest can cause hiccups.
4496
A hiccup or hiccough (generally pronounced "hiccup" 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" 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.\n\nWhile 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.
138652
There are 2 ways I've found to be most effective, first is drink a glass of water and hold your breath while you do it and keep holding it as long after you swallow the water as you can, second when you start hiccuping think about your next hiccup, keep thinking about it as hard as you can and it usually stops, it sounds crazy but it's a psychological thing and it really works.
1038643
Breathing CO2(carbondioxide) eases hiccups. Breathing in a closed environment (like a paper bag) increase CO2 intake, thereby helping ease hiccups. Holding breath does the same.
467891
Hiccups are causes by your diaphragm being in spasm.  So my theory is try to get the diaphragm out of spasm by tweaking it.  Breathe in deeply and expand your chest and push out your stomach muscles.  Hold it for as long as you can, and then repeat.  It does work most of the time.\n\nIf you would a long list of possible solutions please check this link.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiccups
601547
I know it sounds nuts, but that hiccup trick works for me; where you get a tall cup of water, sit it on the table, and drink from the opposite side of the glass. It may have something to do with the way your air passages are as you drink\n\n\nAlso for hiccups, try a spoonful of peanut butter\n\n\nThe only real hiccup cure is one that treats the hiccups for what they really are. Hiccups are caused by the diaphragm spasming. Taking in as much air as possible, makes the lungs expand and push down on the diaphragm. This stretches the diaphragm out to it original position and shape. Hold the breath as long as possible, just don't pass out, and let it out. Voila', no more hiccups. It works every time. \n\nIf all of the above dont work.. just watch a horror movie or let something scare U.
688395
hiccups are caused by activation of the thirst center in the brain.which activates the vagal reflex and diaphragm gets spasm. drinking water, holding your breath,jumping can all give relief.
118431
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. \nHiccups 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. \n\nHome 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.
535353
Oh sure, it happens all the time. I don't know why you've only heard of ONE person dying. It happens everyday. This is what happens. When you get the hiccups, your body has been tricked into thinking that it can't get air. Why does this happen you ask? It's because when you eat beef that was grown with steroids it creates a chemical that reactes with a chemical in your diaphragm and it makes your body think that it is suffocating. Well here's the deal with that. Most people's bodies don't create enough of this chemical to do them any harm. But 1 out of 10 people's bodies make 4 times as much of this chemical as needed, so it reacts 4 times as strong which in turn creates a vacuum inside your lungs each time you hiccup and it finally implodes on your lungs...and you die.