why do we get the hiccups????
455762
TRY  to burp granny  says  some times theres a  bubble stuck  down there. i  take  small  sips  of water  too  that  helps  then  try  to  burp.  good  luck
409583
No hiccups are not contagious but it might be possible to control them.  If one can control the hindbrain then it might be possible to contol ones hiccups...similar to people who can cause their eyes to shake rapidly.  \n\nSometimes if you get the hiccups then physcially try to hiccup again you won't hiccup (my friend does that to his daughter by telling her he'll give her a dollar if she would do it again, she usually can't)
62240
We hiccup because our diaphragm is irittated, it contracts uncontrollably. This can happen when you eat too fast. The contraction, or twitching, causes the back of the throat to snap shut which is what makes the sound of hiccup...
554945
Yawns and hiccups are our body's natural response to lack of oxygen.  Hiccups occur when our body thinks we're not breathing as often as we should, especially with any activity that involves using the mouth and respiratory system (eating/drinking or talking / singing).\n\nTherefore, use any one of the following (or a combination) as a cure for hiccups:\n\n1.) CLASSICAL / OPERA SINGER'S Long Breathing Exercises - Stand up, torso straight, head up, legs slightly apart, with your arms spread eagle-like almost to your ears.  Take a deep, deep breath -- imagine trying to fill your entire torso with air.  Hold for a few seconds.  Then, exhale all of the air as slowly as you possibly can, by making the sound of a snake ("Ssssss").  Slowly lower your arms all the way to rest on your sides as you say "Ssss," or until you have no breath left to expel. (You MUST expel all of it.)  Then repeat from the beginning.  Do at least 10 repetitions.\n \n2.)  Drink a glass of water.  Swallow large gulps, but not in rapid succession.  Take one big gulp every 10 seconds, until you finish off the glass.  \n\n3.) BRIDAL MARCH -- Start walking very slowly, taking slow breaths and exhaling properly as you do.  Walk like a bride:  one foot step forward , feet together;  other foot forward, both feet together.\n\n4.) TRY TO FORGET ABOUT TRYING TO GET RID OF HICCUPS.  Focus on something else vastly more important, more urgent, more interesting.  (Example:  look at some gorgeous nude guy's pic.)  Don't forget to breathe luxuriously.  :-)  Your body will gradually realize you don't need to hiccup to get enough oxygen, especially with your brain pre-occupied with something else.
75003
Hiccups occur when a spasm contracts the diaphragm, a large sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. This spasm causes an intake of breath that is suddenly stopped by the closure of the vocal cords (glottis). This closure causes the characteristic "hiccup" sound. A very full stomach can cause bouts of hiccups that go away on their own. Full stomach can be caused by: Eating too much too fast, drinking too much alcohol,swallowing too much air, smoking, sudden change in stomach temperature, such as drinking a hot beverage and then a cold beverage, and emotional stress or excitement.
815061
"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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nYou'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.\n\nPutting 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!
416025
maybe you're chronically dehydrated.  i believe that can cause hiccups.
472969
This article has some good info:\n\n"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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nYou'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.\n\nPutting 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!
25807
Hiccups occur when a spasm contracts the diaphragm, a large sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. This spasm causes an intake of breath that is suddenly stopped by the closure of the vocal cords (glottis). This closure causes the characteristic "hiccup" sound. A very full stomach can cause bouts of hiccups that go away on their own. Full stomach can be caused by: eating too much too fast, drinking too much alcohol, swallowing too much air, smoking, sudden change in stomach temperature, such as drinking a hot beverage and then a cold beverage, and emotional stress or excitement. Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are called persistent hiccups. Hiccups that last longer than a month are called intractable hiccups.  Both persistent and intractable hiccups may be a sign of a more serious health problem and require an exam by a health professional. There really is no way to prevent them.
377705
Drink a spoonful of lemon juice.\nthe sour taste shocks your nerves and stops hiccups.
270694
you need to get in touch with your doctor or get a doctor,cuz you might have a illness that irritates the phrenic nerve in the diaphragm,you can get hiccups when you overeat,eatting too fast,drinking carbonated beverages.This method that someone told me to do once when I had the hiccups get a glass of water, a straw, put the straw in the glass of water put your mouth on the straw and block your ears with your fingers and drink the water thur the straw all of it. It works everytime when I have the hiccups.Good Luck.....
194659
My mother told me to drink water but i prefer holding breath. Hiccup appeared because of lack of oxygen, i think, so holding ur breath will be good. Hold for 10 seconds and do it for3 to 5 times and it will be cured!!!
39516
Hiccups are a spasm of the diaphram.  Hold your breath and while doing so, take your middle knuckle and hold it against your windpipe.  This keeps any air from getting through.  It has always worked for me.  It's probably the same principle as people telling you to try and drink water while you are holding your breath, however I think it's more effective than drinking water, because you aren't allowing any air to get in.
65282
"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.\n\nThe diaphragm almost always works perfectly. It pulls down when you inhale to help pull air into the lungs, and it pushes up when you exhale to help push air out of the lungs. But sometimes the diaphragm becomes irritated, and when this happens, it pushes up in a jerky way that makes your breath come out differently from how it normally does. When this irregular breath 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.\n\nYou'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.
185253
For me, I day-dream on purpose.  When you day-dream you forget about the hiccups, and breathe normal, thus, getting rid of the hiccups.  For anyone who reads this, you really should try this; IT WORKS!
847994
Change your breathing patterns. Hiccups are basically hitches in your current breathing pattern. Try breathing in and out really fast for a minute or two.
201073
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 ...Try these methods at home:\n\nHold your breath. \nDrink a glass of water quickly. \nBecome frightened. \nUse smelling salts. \nPull hard on your tongue. \nPlace one-half teaspoon of dry sugar on the back of your tongue. (You can repeat this process 3 times at 2-minute intervals. Use corn syrup, not sugar, in young children.) The reason that these remedies are thought to work is that carbon dioxide build-up in the blood will stop hiccups, which is what happens when you hold your breath.