Though hiccups are generally harmless and usually go away in a few minutes, they can be incredibly frustrating. No one knows exactly what brings them on, why they occur nor, to everyone's chagrin, how to get rid of them.
What exactly is a hiccup? A hiccup is a spasm (or an involuntary contraction) of your diaphragm, a muscle at the base of your lungs that helps with breathing. The spasm causes your vocal cords to quickly close, which is where the "hiccup" sound comes from.
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Though hiccups can occur completely without notice, they're more likely to occur while:
- Eating a big meal (or one with spicy foods)
- Drinking carbonated beverages
- Smoking
- Drinking excessively
- Feeling stressed out or excited
So how do you get rid of hiccups?