What Are Hiccups?

Hiccups happen when your diaphragm (say: DYE-uh-fram), the dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the chest, becomes irritated, causing a spasm (a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle).

The diaphragm almost always works perfectly. When someone inhales, the diaphragm pulls down to help bring air into the lungs. When that person exhales, the diaphragm relaxes and air flows out of the lungs and back out through the nose and mouth.

But when the diaphragm becomes irritated, it pulls down in a jerky way, which makes a person suck air into the throat suddenly. When the air rushing in hits the voice box, vocal cords close suddenly and the person is left with a big hiccup.

What Causes Hiccups?

Some cases of hiccups are triggered by eating too quickly or too much. At mealtimes, make sure kids slow down, chew food thoroughly, and stop eating when full.

Some other things that irritate the diaphragm are:

• an irritation in the stomach or throat
• feeling nervous or excited

How Long Do Hiccups Last?

Almost all cases of the hiccups last only a few minutes. Some cases of the hiccups can last for days or even months, but this is very unusual and it's usually a sign of another medical problem.

How To Make Hiccups Go Away

You've probably heard lots of suggestions for how to get rid of hiccups. There’s no proven strategy for getting rid of hiccups, but some people swear by these approaches:

• Holding your breath and counting to 10.
• Drinking from the "wrong" side of a glass of water.
• Putting sugar under your tongue.

And maybe the most famous treatment — having someone jump out and scare you when you're not expecting it — helps some people get rid of their hiccups. Try these the next time your child has the hiccups!