Now this is a great question Luke and one which has vexed scientists for a number of years. When you get a hiccup what is happening is that the diaphragm, which is a muscle that sits beneath the bottom of your lungs suddenly an involuntarily contracts. It does this just as the lung is expanding (breathing in), so the sound you hear is the tightening of the diaphragm being echoed through the lung.
Hiccups are generally caused by such things as eating to quickly which means that we miss a breath and the diaphragm tries to counteract this, drinking fizzing drinks, eating spicy food or consuming alcohol.
Another mystery to scientists for years is how to stop them! Everyone seems to have different methods from holding your breath, being scared by someone, drinking water backwards, doing a handstand…which technique is most effective…i am not sure?!
Comments
Katy commented on :
Another mystery to scientists for years is how to stop them! Everyone seems to have different methods from holding your breath, being scared by someone, drinking water backwards, doing a handstand…which technique is most effective…i am not sure?!