One of the most frustrating human conditions is also one of the most curious. Everyone has found themselves wondering what causes hiccups at some point, and the answer to that question can be found below. Keep read to learn more about the origin the irritating hiccup.
Hiccups are simply involuntary muscle contractions in the diaphragm. Under normal circumstances, the diaphragm operates in perfect harmony: it helps to pull air into the lungs and it assists in expelling the air on an exhale. Sometimes the nerve that controls the diaphragm becomes irritated from a sudden in rush of air; when the air hits the larynx, a hiccup occurs.
The description above outlines the physiology of the hiccup, but it doesn’t really explain what causes hiccups. There are a number of factors that can contribute a bad case of the hiccups, some of which include spicy food, hysterical laughter, eating (hot) food too quickly, or a severe cough. Keeping these factors firmly in mind will at least allow hiccup sufferers to predict when the onset is most likely.
Simply put, anything that causes air to rush into the epiglottis in a fast or unpredictable fashion can cause hiccups. While the condition can be annoying and embarrassing, it usually lasts for a relatively short period of time. In very rare cases, hiccups could be the manifestation of a medical condition. Those who are wondering if their hiccups are serious enough to warrant medical attention may want to consider documenting each individual onset of the hiccups, along with what was happening just before the hiccups started. If the documentation suggests that someone has very frequent or severe hiccups, they may want to discuss the problem with their family physician.
Now that the question “What causes hiccups?” has been answered, many are probably wondering how to get rid of the aggravating things. There are a number home remedies that could potentially rid an individual of the hiccups. For instance, some suggest holding the breath and counting to ten, while others insist that drinking water through a dishtowel will work. Still others believe that putting sugar under the tongue will eliminate the hiccups, and another group thinks that startling someone with a loud “BOO!” will cure the problem. Obviously, there are a lot of opinions out there on the best way to get rid of the hiccups, but the real answer is much simpler: anything that will stop the diaphragm from contracting will stop the hiccups. So, if the methods mentioned above fail to stop the hiccups, consider other ways to keep the diaphragm from contracting; even if it means tightening the muscle and holding it for several seconds.
It’s not difficult to learn how hiccups occur, and it’s not even really that hard to figure out how to stop hiccups. Most people have a harder time concealing the sometimes embarrassing noise that the hiccup emits. Those in this situation should simply do their best to put some distance between themselves and their business associate or date, engage their favorite hiccup cure, and get back as quickly as possible. Remember that everyone gets the hiccups, so most people will be understanding.
Now that you’ve learned about the causes of hiccups, how to stop them, and techniques for making the situation less embarrassing, you should be ready to deal with any case of hiccups that come your way. Just remember that the easiest hiccups to get rid of are the ones that never begin. When possible, eat slowly, avoid super-spicy foods, and keep your laughter non-hysterical; this should keep the incidences of hiccups to a minimum for most.