How Do Hiccups Work?

Everyone gets hiccups, but no one is entirely sure why. Learn what’s going on when you hiccup, plus a couple theories about why hiccups happen.

Hey BrainStuff, I’m Jonathan and today’s question is “How do we get hiccups?” Science isn’t sure, actually.

But it's not that medical science has been ignoring hiccups. When these spasms are frequent or persistent in adults, they can indicate over a hundred different diseases and disorders, from multiple sclerosis to cancer to appendicitis.

And hiccups themselves can get serious. In what’s called intractable cases, hiccups don’t stop for more than a month and can go on for years without relief, leading to complications like irregular heartbeat, weight loss, insomnia, and emotional distress. Understandably.

But OK, science isn't totally ignorant here. We know the basics. Hiccups are reflexive spasms of the diaphragm and glottis caused by irritation to any of several nerves throughout your body.

During normal breathing, you move air into and out of your lungs partially thanks to contractions of your diaphragm. It contracts (pulling downward) as you inhale, then releases (relaxing upward) as you exhale. And all that air moves through your larynx and glottis – that’s the opening between your vocal cords.

During a hiccup, at least half of the diaphragm contracts sharply; about 80 percent of the time, it’s just the left half. That contraction starts pulling in a deep breath, but it gets cut short by the glottis snapping shut about three-hundredths of a second later. The “hic” sound comes from that sudden closure.

In most cases, hiccups are caused by irritation of the phrenic nerves, which control the motion of the diaphragm and send your brain sensory information about what’s going on in various parts of your neck and body.

That irritation is usually from your stomach distending when you when you accidentally swallow air, or when you eat or drink too much too fast. Especially carbonated beverages, like soda and beer.

Irritations of the vagus nerve can also be hiccup culprits, possibly due to its connection to the larynx: Anything from ulcers in your small intestine to a hair poking at the inside of your ear, and lots of stuff in between.

If you're looking to get rid of hiccups, some of the most common home remedies really are worthwhile. They work by either overloading the phrenic or vagus nerves or by interrupting your involuntary breathing cycle.

For nerve overload, try biting into a lemon, placing a spoonful of sugar on the back of your tongue, pulling on your tongue, or having a friend tickle or scare you.

On the respiratory end, try holding your breath, gulping down a glass of water, or breathing into a paper bag. If nothing works, hiccups generally go away on their own. If they stick around for more than 48 hours, see a doctor just in case.

The purpose behind this reflex is still a mystery. Some researchers say they could be vestigial spasms related to how our amphibian ancestors controlled their gills.

Others postulate that they help with breastfeeding: Hiccups can release small amounts of air from the stomach into the esophagus, where it can be exhaled. So hiccups might serve to get air out of babies’ stomachs, making more space for milk.

SOURCES:

[lucasalexander]

who watched this while having hicups i did XD

[Master_Therion]

Weird, 1:59 I didn't think the vagus nerve played a roll in hiccups. After all, "what happens in vagus, stays in vagus."

[venick]

Right after the last hiccup, I take a deep breath, resist the "feeling" and hold it for a while. When I exhale, I no longer have hiccups. Hopefully this helps and I won't be the only one it works for. (and he says it right after I comment >.>)

[chaquitoherrera]

Would you please do a comparison from tap water to bottled or even filtered water? To see which is a healthier choice.

[cnugg]

as soon as he explained how hiccups worked, i took a deep breath and they went away😂

[charlycheer]

I put water in my mouth, go upside down on a chair or couch, and swallow the water upside down. Works every time!

[eduardoioannou]

I generally get hiccups when I start eating after I've spent a longer than usual amount of time without doing so, and I get rid of them by holding my breath, so I guess the hypothesis about it being to move gas out of the stomach makes sense, at least in my case

[marshallpelletier]

What about baby hiccups in utero? Doctors say they are meant to strengthen the diaphragm and prepare baby for breathing. He is hiccuping without even breathing air! Amazing.

[cecillewolters]

Sometimes I think hiccups are just lung farts xD
But this video explains it very wel :3
My way to get rid of it is by drinken a glass of water, but then on the opposite part of the glass. You have to bend forward and it's almost the same as drinking upside down. Lemonades such as coke or bubbly waters help too

[heatherwanderer]

For some reason, I have a very deep voice and I'm genetically female...on the phone frequently mistaken for a male....however, when I hiccup, they get so high pitched! The first few are a squeaking mouse or bird type noise and if it keeps going will continue to get higher and higher all the way into the inaudible range.
Every time a new friend first hears me hiccup they will laugh hysterically, but though its funny its also incredibly painful for me if they continue for too long in the inaudible range. The best thing I found is to try and get a video of myself hiccuping, instantly they stop!!! I've been trying for years to get a video, I can hiccup uncontrollably for 30 minutes, but the minute I turn the camera on...they stop!

[uhhmanda]

Hiccups almost always give me a headache from that sudden jolt of my neck.

[mukeshgoyal]

+brainstuff here in India, we got 1 or 2 hiccups then the first thought came in our mind is "who is missing me" (friend/relatives e. T. C.)
Though u can say it's a myth but it's some time real nd dats y we believe in it.😉 😜

If its more than 2 - 3 than it means something wrong with ur body nd take home remedies..

[Jugdjay]

I watched this video because I had a hiccup that was ongoing since yesterday evening. I just wanted to figure out how to make it stop.
Well... it stopped while I was watching this video.

[Jasmine-bupy]

Can you do a video on why do people get nightmares

[gphkg]

many years ago, while I had a violent hiccup bout (".), I said boo out loud to myself. obviously I didn't get a fright but my hiccups stopped. so I told myself hey, that worked...
I would then get someone else to say it if I was with company... that worked too... before long if I asked someone to say it, the hiccups would stop as soon as I said the word... nowadays I just say it myself...the last hiccup usually ends in a belch (".)

[Mratul]

why dont we get hiccups and the cough when we are asleep...why??
why all the other animals are natural swimmers but humans arent..Why.??

[veronicaotero]

My daughter had hiccups and I told her to watch this

[HeoniBebe]

I literally don't make a sound while hiccuping 😂

[heartattackphil]

Downed a bottle of water to get rid of my hiccups while watching the video lol

[garrett]

drinking water upside down gets rid of hiccups 100% of the time for me. Just go to a drinking fountain or grab a water bottle and bend over so your head is upside down.