What makes hiccups happen

Air is involuntarily sucked into the throat. Hiccups usually stop after a few minutes. Cause of hiccups The muscular activity of the diaphragm is controlled by nerves. Hiccups occur when particular stimuli trigger the nerves to send the diaphragm into spasms. It is not known why this occurs. Triggers of hiccups The cause of hiccups is often unknown and there may be no apparent trigger.

Various triggers, particularly those that cause pressure on the diaphragm, are known to prompt an attack of hiccups in some people from time to time. Some of these triggers include: Eating food too quickly Hot or spicy foods Indigestion Overconsumption of alcohol Fizzy drinks Cigarette smoking Stress Bad odours Pregnancy. Self-help strategies Hiccups are harmless and usually resolve by themselves in a few minutes. Hiccups may be symptomatic of disease Hiccups that last for days, weeks or even years may be symptomatic of underlying disease.

Certain lung or brain disorders can sometimes interfere with the functioning of the diaphragm and make the person prone to hiccups. They can be short-lived and may occur alongside other symptoms, depending on the cause.

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When you inhale, it pulls down to help pull air into the lungs. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and air flows out of the lungs back out through the nose and mouth.

But sometimes the diaphragm becomes irritated. When this happens, it pulls down in a jerky way, which makes you suck air into your throat suddenly. In this article, learn more about what causes hiccups, how to stop them, and when to see a doctor. Hiccups result from a muscular spasm that happens when a person breathes in bursts of air.

When a person breathes in, they use the intercostal muscles between the ribs and the diaphragm a dome-shaped sheet of muscle below the lungs. Usually, when a person takes a breath, the diaphragm pulls down to draw air into the lungs.

As they breathe out, the diaphragm pushes up to expel the air. When a person has hiccups, the diaphragm contracts and pulls down, drawing in air between breaths. Immediately after this, the windpipe closes for a moment to prevent more air from entering the lungs. The stomach, which is directly below the diaphragm, becomes distended. This irritates the diaphragm and causes it to contract, as it does when we breathe in. Sometimes, hiccups occur due to a disturbance in the nerve pathways that lead from the brain to the muscles between the ribs.

Sometimes, an episode of hiccups can last for longer than 2 months. Hiccups can be a symptom of an underlying health problem. For example, they are a common occurrence in gastroesophageal disease. Some people with cancer might also experience frequent hiccups.

This may be due to their symptoms or some aspects of their treatment plan. A wide range of other conditions can increase the likelihood of hiccups, including:.