• Question: Why do you get hiccups?

    Asked by ells8 to clairemarieroberts, Faye, Martin, Mus, Pete on 23 Apr 2012.
    • Photo: Pete Etchells

      Pete Etchells answered on 23 Apr 2012:

      Hiccups are basically muscle twitches, but with a specific muscle – the diaphragm. The diaphragm lies just below your lungs, and is used in breathing. When you get a twitch in it (called a ‘myoclonus’), it causes air to rush into your lungs and briefly close up your vocal cords. That’s what causes the ‘hiccup’ sound!

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