Quantcast
What is the cause of hiccups? | Almanac.com

What is the cause of hiccups?

Print Friendly and PDF
What is the cause of hiccups?
Answer
Hiccups come from an irritation to the diaphragm (the muscle wall that separates the chest from the abdomen) or the esophagus (the “pipeline” that takes food from your mouth to your stomach). When the diaphragm or esophagus is irritated, it can spasm, causing the epiglottis (the flap that keeps food from going down the wrong pipe into your lungs) to snap shut. This is the clicking sound that accompanies hiccups.