Karlie Bean had hiccups nine times yesterday so that made me wonder what causes hiccups??? I remember learning long ago that it had something to do with the diaphragm but couldn't recall details so i found my answer with a quick search. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of your chest, and all hiccups start here.
The diaphragm almost always works perfectly. When you inhale, it pulls down to help pull air into the lungs. When you exhale, it pushes up to help push air out of the lungs. But sometimes the diaphragm becomes irritated. When this happens, it pulls down in a jerky way, which makes you suck air into your throat suddenly. When the air rushing in hits your voice box, you're 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. While i may never know exactly what caused Karlie's hiccups i'm thankful to report they were easy to get rid of each time with a few sips of milk. Hopefully they won't be returning today because the hiccups are only funny so long.
11 years ago
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When Quincey gets the hiccups, she gets them really good and hard, they last quite awhile, but they don't seem to hurt or bother her when she does get them.
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