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Why do you hiccup? And how do you get rid of it?

 Why do we really get hiccups? And why does it sound so strange? We have collected answers to the most common questions about hiccups (which is so hard!)

Researchers do not know for sure why we get hiccups, but we do know quite a lot about what happens and what causes it. Here are answers to some of our most common questions about hiccups.



What is hiccups?

Hiccups are contractions in the diaphragm, a muscle that sits in the lower part of the chest and that helps us breathe. When the diaphragm contracts, you inhale strongly.


Why do you have to hiccup?

You get hiccups because of something irritated diaphragm. It could be something you ate / drank, or how you ate / drank. It could also be because you laughed too hard or inhaled cold air. It is also not uncommon for you to hiccup when you are nervous, or during physical exertion. You can also have a hiccup without anything special behind it.



What can you hiccup from?

In addition to sudden temperature changes and laughter, you can get hiccups from strong food, alcohol, nicotine drugs, gas in the stomach and certain medications. You can also get hiccups from certain diseases, although this is unusual.


Why does it sound like a hiccup?

When you hiccup, the diaphragm contracts and you inhale a lot of air at once. The inhalation is broken on the reflex of the trachea. That's when the sound comes.



How to get rid of hiccups?

There is no scientifically proven cure for hiccups, which usually disappears on its own eventually. But here are some tricks that can help get rid of it faster. Several of them increase the carbon dioxide level in the blood, which can therefore help against hiccups.

⦁ Hold your breath and swallow at the same time.

⦁ Breathe in a paper bag.

⦁ Drink water as you lean forward a little.

⦁ Sit down, hug your knees and breathe calmly and focused.

Other, less proven tricks are to gargle with really cold water, bite into a lemon or to gently press the diaphragm.


Can hiccups be dangerous?

Diseases of the heart, stomach and / or lungs can affect the diaphragm. But as I said, it is unusual.Can hiccups be dangerous?

Diseases of the heart, stomach and / or lungs can affect the diaphragm. But as I said, it is unusual.



When to seek help for hiccups?

If you have hiccups that recur frequently and / or persist for several hours, you should check it with your GP for safety.


Psst! There is a world record in hiccups

The world record in hiccups is held, according to Guinness World Records by the American Charles Osborne who hiccuped for a full 68 years. Initially about 40 times per minute, later about 20 times per minute.

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