Why we get Hiccups now and then?

Our chest and stomach are separated by a thin layer called diaphragm. Our chest can be filled with more air when this diaphragm moves down. When the diaphragm moves upwards some of the air in the chest goes out.

When we are breathing air in and out through the nose, the diaphragm moves up and down regularly.

As we are breathing the air moves in and out of the wind pipe in the throat without any noise. Sometimes, the diaphragm contracts and moves down suddenly. Then the air from outside rushes in to our lungs through the wind pipe. At this juncture, the voice box in the wind pipe starts closing. Then the air rushing through it, produces a 'puck' sound which we hear when a tightly fitted cork is removed to the mouth of a bottle. This sound is what we call as 'hiccup'.

If one eats spicy food which causes acidity in the stomach and also when one consumes more alcoholic drinks or if one is undergoing mental tension 'hiccups' are developed.

Usually hiccups can be subsided by a drinking a glass of cold water.

Laxmi... Emani

Published date : 14 Nov 2012 04:44PM