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September 10, 2008, 4:46 am
Flag as Inappropriate flowerhorn  

Why do we get hiccups? Is it a lack of water in our system that causes it? And how do you make it go away? I only wait them to stop.

Here is a quote from WebMD about hiccups:

"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."

WebMD also goes on to list possible causes (though the actual reason why is not yet understood):

* Eating too much food too quickly.

* Drinking too much alcohol.

* Swallowing too much air.

* Smoking.

* A sudden change in stomach temperature, such as drinking a hot beverage and then a cold beverage.

* Emotional stress or excitement.

I can definitely vouch for the swallowing too much air cause. My little girl has always had a problem with laughter leading to hiccups for her. From the time she was old enough to laugh, at just a few months old, everytime she would laugh those hiccups would follow. She laughed so much that it usually ended up happening several times a day, and still does quite often. I assume hiccups aren't dangerous. We have just always loved to hear that child laugh even though we knew the hiccups would soon follow!

Hiccups for me seem to come when I eat to fast or take in too much air. If is watch those things I'm okay.

I get them often and it stinks!

There are many ways they say to get rid of them.

Being scared- have someone scare you.

Hold your breath.

Drink water (this works the best for me)

Drink water upside down (tip your head and drink it).

I'm sure there is more.

I get them a lot too, and really the only thing that works for me is to drink water upside down, or be lucky enough to have someone scare me!

A spoonful of sugar. It's not really an old wives' tale, there really is some scientific reasoning to it. Something about the diaphragm going into shock from the sugar or something...

Do you mean if I laugh to much, I will get more air in my stomach and as a result, I will get hiccup? Perhaps next time when I laugh, I will cover my mouth.