Anatomy; HICCUPS!

[joshisrawerthantamia]

Many people say that the cause of hiccups is unknown, so what do you thinkis the reason why?

[TamiaisrawerthanJosh]

Good question! But I think you meant think is ..

[Isaac Ghobrial]

Hiccups occur when the epiglottis suddenly closes. 

The epiglottis is the flap at the end of your throat

which stops food from entering your lungs. When 

this happens, you start hiccuping.

Click this link to watch a really cool video: http://www.brainpop.com/health/diseasesinjuriesandconditions/hiccups/

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[Natalie Olivares]

Hiccups are pretty much when your diaphragm is bounicng uncontolably

[VictorBencomo]

@joshisrawerthantamia
Us humans hiccup for many reasons. The most simple of reasons is when we eat too fast or drink something quickly. This causes the stomach to become irritated and causes the diaphragm (which is right on top of the stomach) to close up, just like when we breathe in. Another reason is when nerve pathways are disturbed from the brain to your muscles. For example, when you enter a really cold room you may get the hiccups, or when you start crying you get those weird clammy hiccups. (Fun fact: Hiccups due to nerve disturbance can be taken away by scaring the crap out of someone). Although hiccups are just a little glitch in our system they can also be signs of problems in our brain, our spinal chord or anything around your diaphragm or chest wall, but only if they are persistent. Everyone has their own remedy to get of hiccups but the best is to breathe into a brown paper bag, this causes a high amount of carbon dioxide to enter your lungs, which will relax your diaphragm and will cause a stop to the spasms. I hope this answered your question. 

 

@Natalie Olivares: The diaphragm does not bounce during hiccups.

Source's

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/7623.php

[Amanda Barrera]

Hiccups are caused by an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm muscle, usually because humans rarely use it and it at times (laughing to much, breathing/eating/drinking too rapidly) it can become overused, causing the contractions. Infants mainly breathe using the diaphragm muscle when they sleep, for it brings the most air into the lungs. Professional singers also don't have this problem, because their diaphragms are always being used to get the most air into their lungs, sometimes very quickly. The contraction also helps singers produce stress on certain words, 'bounce' notes "think of someone saying ha ha ha rapidly", and hold their notes for a longer period of time than puffing out your chest (lifting rib cage) and lifting your shoulders would.

I can tell you, water does not help cure hiccups at all. what usually works for me is to breathe in and out very rapidly for  a couple of breaths, inhale deeply, and hold your breath for like 10-20 seconds. Repeat this until you get the desired results. also, sudden suprise could help as well. 

[Amanda Barrera]

I think i'll try the paper bag remedy sometime.

[Amanda Barrera]

@VictorBecomo

does the paper bag have to be brown? XD

[jeffli...@gmail.com]

The paper bag method can also cause carbon monoxide / dioxide poisoning so... yeah...

[jeffli...@gmail.com]

Funny question Amanda... no... and read my comment above before you try

[tati21]

I think that the cause is a change in the respitory rythm so it causes
hiccpus

[Mendez, Alexandra]

Hiccups can be caused by the irritation of the diaphragm, This most likely
 occurs when you eat too fast, have an irritated throat or stomach, or when
you are feeling very nervous or excited.

[Braojos, Marilyn]

Hiccups are also known as synchonous diaphragmatic flutter. They are only found in mammals; mostly infants. In simple terms, hiccups are diaphragm spasms. They can be caused by overeating, eating to fast, sudden change of temperature, laughing, and tobacco use.
On the other hand, persistent hiccups can be a result of metabolic diseases, diabetes, kidney failure, electrolyte imbalance, and a deviated septum.

Fun Facts:
1. Charles Osborne had hiccups for about 68 years, and he lived 97 years.
2. Nineteen-year old, Jennifer Mee, from Florida had hiccups for about 50 times per minute for a little more than 5 weeks.
3. As a result of a tumor, Briton Christoper Sands had hiccups for a little less than three years.

[Braojos, Marilyn]

@Natalie *bouncing *uncontrollably
@tati21 *respiratory *hiccups