What causes us to get the hiccups?
65282
"Hic!" You've just hiccuped for what seems like the tenth time since you finished your big dinner. Wonder where these funny noises are coming from? The part to blame is your diaphragm (say: die-uh-fram). This is a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of your chest, and all hiccups start here.\n\nThe diaphragm almost always works perfectly. It pulls down when you inhale to help pull air into the lungs, and it pushes up when you exhale to help push air out of the lungs. But sometimes the diaphragm becomes irritated, and when this happens, it pushes up in a jerky way that makes your breath come out differently from how it normally does. When this irregular breath hits your voice box, you're left with a big hiccup.\n\nSome things that irritate the diaphragm are eating too quickly or too much, an irritation in the stomach or the throat, or feeling nervous or excited. Almost all cases of the hiccups last only a few minutes. Some cases of the hiccups can last for days or weeks, but this is very unusual, and it's usually a sign of another medical problem.\n\nYou've probably heard lots of suggestions for how to get rid of hiccups, and maybe you've even tried a few. Holding your breath and counting to 10 is one way some people can get rid of their hiccups; other people say that drinking from the "wrong" side of a glass of water is the way to become hiccup-free. Putting sugar under your tongue might work, too. And maybe the most famous treatment - having someone jump out and scare you when you're not expecting it - helps some people wave good-bye to their hiccups.
847994
Change your breathing patterns. Hiccups are basically hitches in your current breathing pattern. Try breathing in and out really fast for a minute or two.
25807
Hiccups occur when a spasm contracts the diaphragm, a large sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. This spasm causes an intake of breath that is suddenly stopped by the closure of the vocal cords (glottis). This closure causes the characteristic "hiccup" sound. A very full stomach can cause bouts of hiccups that go away on their own. Full stomach can be caused by: eating too much too fast, drinking too much alcohol, swallowing too much air, smoking, sudden change in stomach temperature, such as drinking a hot beverage and then a cold beverage, and emotional stress or excitement. Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are called persistent hiccups. Hiccups that last longer than a month are called intractable hiccups.  Both persistent and intractable hiccups may be a sign of a more serious health problem and require an exam by a health professional. There really is no way to prevent them.
106390
well hiccups happen when u swallow air and then u eat too \nfast. so its not bad but in some casesof the hiccups can last for days or weeks, but this is very unusual, and it's usually a sign of another medical problem.
1153821
If you go outside and find a small smooth pebble.  Then you place that pebble underneath a log, your hiccups will be cured.
194659
My mother told me to drink water but i prefer holding breath. Hiccup appeared because of lack of oxygen, i think, so holding ur breath will be good. Hold for 10 seconds and do it for3 to 5 times and it will be cured!!!
554945
Yawns and hiccups are our body's natural response to lack of oxygen.  Hiccups occur when our body thinks we're not breathing as often as we should, especially with any activity that involves using the mouth and respiratory system (eating/drinking or talking / singing).\n\nTherefore, use any one of the following (or a combination) as a cure for hiccups:\n\n1.) CLASSICAL / OPERA SINGER'S Long Breathing Exercises - Stand up, torso straight, head up, legs slightly apart, with your arms spread eagle-like almost to your ears.  Take a deep, deep breath -- imagine trying to fill your entire torso with air.  Hold for a few seconds.  Then, exhale all of the air as slowly as you possibly can, by making the sound of a snake ("Ssssss").  Slowly lower your arms all the way to rest on your sides as you say "Ssss," or until you have no breath left to expel. (You MUST expel all of it.)  Then repeat from the beginning.  Do at least 10 repetitions.\n \n2.)  Drink a glass of water.  Swallow large gulps, but not in rapid succession.  Take one big gulp every 10 seconds, until you finish off the glass.  \n\n3.) BRIDAL MARCH -- Start walking very slowly, taking slow breaths and exhaling properly as you do.  Walk like a bride:  one foot step forward , feet together;  other foot forward, both feet together.\n\n4.) TRY TO FORGET ABOUT TRYING TO GET RID OF HICCUPS.  Focus on something else vastly more important, more urgent, more interesting.  (Example:  look at some gorgeous nude guy's pic.)  Don't forget to breathe luxuriously.  :-)  Your body will gradually realize you don't need to hiccup to get enough oxygen, especially with your brain pre-occupied with something else.
640605
hiccups are caused by your diaphram (the muscle seperating your chest area and  your lower abdomen) spasming... Usually it spasms due to irregular breathing.  So no holding your breath really doesn't work if it does for some people it shouldn't and is probably in their head.  However breathing evenly and calmly should calm it down and make them stop.
112926
Just thinking about the next hiccup may stop you from having them. Some say that after the first few hiccups the rest are just in your mind and your body is following your mind. If this were true why do babies get the hiccups? Anyway just try to predict when the next hiccup will strike! You may be concentrating so hard that it just won't arrive. If you are with someone who has the hiccups offer them something if they can hiccup just three more times. If you offer them something like $5 or $20 it works even better! \n\nTake sugar swallowed dry, some say take a teaspoon others a tablespoon, and some say white and some say brown sugar, I think that depends on your personal taste.
468830
While I have never heard of this particular remedy, it works on a very simple principle.  The reason we hiccup is simply because our diaphragm (the muscle which controls our breathing) is out of sync.  The way the diaphragm works is that when it contracts, it squeezes the lungs, forcing air out, much like squeezing a plastic bag full of air.  When the muscle expands, it pulls on the lungs, causing us to draw air in, like the handle on an air pump pulls on the seal, drawing air into the chamber.  The reason placing your finger under your nose works, is simply that it provides a 'focus', which causes you to draw and exhale your breath steadily, which causes the diaphragm to fall back in sync.  This is the same reason why holding your breath works, if you hold it long enough the diaphragm falls back into sync.  The best way to stop the hiccups, is to just focus on breathing slow, deep breaths at regular intervals.
357639
i think you might be sucking in air when you eat. i find that when i eat bread(the yeast in itcauses air)i get hiccups.
263671
While standing, hold your breathe, and try to touch your toe and stay in that position as long as you can stand it. \n\nSeveral times until hiccups dissapear. It really works!
118431
Hiccups are gulping sounds caused by involuntary spasms of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen and helps with breathing. Hiccups can be triggered if you eat too much or too fast, consume very hot or cold foods and beverages, or drink carbonated beverages. Other causes include cold showers, entering or leaving a hot or cold room, sudden excitement, and stress. \nHiccups are not a serious medical condition and usually disappear on their own within a few minutes. If they last longer than 24 hours, hiccups may be a sign of another condition or injury. You should see your health care provider if you experience prolonged hiccuping. \n\nHome remedies are usually the primary treatment for hiccups, although no one is really sure how well they work. Hiccup home remedies include sneezing, being suddenly frightened, holding your breath, gargling, drinking pineapple juice, drinking water rapidly, sipping ice water, or swallowing dry granulated sugar. These activities may help by altering breathing patterns.
70947
Hiccups are involuntary spams of the diaphragm.\nYou should drink lots of water and try to force a really big yawn or two. It seems to force the diaphragm to relax which can help stop hiccups. You can also push below the rib cage for about 30 seconds. Or try to hold your breath as best as you can....\n\nI once heard about drinking water while leaning over and from the other side of the rim -(when you hold the glass) -  but that just sounds silly to me. Many others I have known *swear* by this method, though.\n\nAnother good remedy is to shake a few dashes of Angostura bitters on a lime wedge and suck it for just a few seconds. It's amazing, I've seen it work every time. The bitters can be found in most markets in the liquor section - (it does not contain any alcohol.) It stops them instantaneously!\n\nI have also heard that a good fright will do it. If somebody scares you unexpectedly. Not a scary movie - like lunging out at you and yelling "Boo!" It works but only if you're not expecting it. \n\nGood luck!
215358
this a no fail way to get rid of the hiccups \nplace a pencil in your mouth to where you are biting it in the middle of the pencil and then just drink some water its hard to drink but it will get rid of them
207246
Fill a glass with water and, bending over it, drink from the opposite side that you would normally drink from.  This contracts your muscles which are causing the hiccups and it never fails for me.....
1101339
I think it is due to a spasm in your diaphragm. If you breathe in real slowly and then exhale real slowly a couple of times it can stop your hiccups.