• Question: why do we get hiccups?

    Asked by harrycooper to Becky, Angela, Gopal, Hannah, Vince on 20 Jun 2013. This question was also asked by vickycmhowell.
    • Photo: Rebecca Cook

      Rebecca Cook answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      Hiccups are actually caused by a contraction of the diaphragm, a muscle under the lungs. The hiccup sounds is caused by closure of the vocal chords by this muscle contraction.

    • Photo: Angela Hackett

      Angela Hackett answered on 25 Jun 2013:

      You get hiccups when your diaphragm contracts “out of time” or not in it’s normal rhythm. When you hold your breath or get startled that jump starts you diaphragm back to a normal rhythm. You can accidentally cause this abnormal contraction by eating too quickly or eating spicy food or fizzy drinks. Some scientist think hiccups are a way of releasing gas out of your tummy, a bit like a burp.

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