hiccups

What are hiccups (sometimes spelled hiccoughs)? Hiccups are basically a diaphragmatic spasm and occur when a spur triggers the nerves which lower the diaphragm, i.e. makes the diaphragm contract involuntary, causing the person to take in a quick breath of air into their lungs, leading to the hiccups. The diaphragm is a large sheet of muscle slung beneath the lungs that, together with the intercostal muscles, causes us to breathe. The muscular spasm of these muscles sucks air into the lungs, and the quick inhalation makes a structure inside the throat (called the epiglottis) shut off, producing the characteristic "hic" sound, i.e., the hiccups! The epiglottis is a flap of tissue between the vocal cords, that closes over the windpipe during swallowing to prevent the inhalation of food, fluids or saliva. It is a reflex that nobody can stop, however, unlike other reflexes such as coughing and sneezing, hiccups and their triggers, do not seem to have any useful purpose.

The term "hiccup" derives from the sound of the action. "Hiccough" wrongly implies an association with respiratory reflexes. The medical term, singultus, is thought to have originated from the Latin, singult, which translates roughly as "the act of catching one's breath while sobbing." Take a quick tour of the site and hopefully you’ll benefit from information to be found on subject matter such as: what are the causes; spotting the triggers and potential cures; hiccups in infants; and even hiccups in animals - particularly canine.