jyoti bhatia
Last Activity: 8 Years ago
Hiccups are bursts of inspiratory (breathing in) activity. Muscles we use when we take in a breath are intercostal muscles situated between the ribs and diaphragm – a sheet of muscle below lungs.
Most simple cases of hiccups come after eating or drinking too much or too quickly. The stomach becomes distended and irritates it. This will cause diaphragm to contract as it does when we breathe in.
Sometimes, hiccups will occur because of a disturbance to nerve pathways from the brain to muscles involved. This explains why hiccups may occur with temperature changes or emotional situations. It is also the reason that a sudden shock can sometimes abolish an attack.