QUESTION CORNER

February 07, 2016 09:00 am | Updated 09:00 am IST

HICCUPS

Why do we get hiccups?

MAYANK BAJPAI, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

For hiccups, we have to blame our diaphragm. This is a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of our chest assisting us to breath in and breath out. The diaphragm almost always works perfectly.

When we inhale, it pulls down to help pull air into the lungs. When we exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and air flows out of the lungs back out through the nose and mouth.

But sometimes the diaphragm becomes irritated. When this happens, it pulls down in a jerky way, which makes us suck air into our throat suddenly. When the air rushing in hits the voice box, the vocal cords close suddenly and we are left with a big hiccup. Some 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 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 some other medical problem.

RASHMI JAIN, Greater Noida

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Readers may send their questions/answers to questioncorner@thehindu.co.in

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