Why do I get the hiccups

lack of oxgyen to the brain.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_people_get_hiccups

Hiccups are sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle. As the muscle contracts repeatedly, the opening between your vocal cords snaps shut to check the inflow of air and makes the hiccup sound. Many conditions are associated …

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090505101841AAH0ub2

Hiccups are the result of an involuntary, contraction of the diaphragm followed by the closing of the throat, the air rush into the lungs causes a hic sound…

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080823100222AARv30z

Related Questions Answered on Y!Answers

Why do we get hiccups? What is the best way to get rid of them?

Q: I just had a piece of gum and now I have hiccups. Anyway, why do we get hiccups? And how does that work?Also, any suggestions on how to get rid of them?

A: Hiccups is an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, the muscle between your chest & abdomen. Your vocal chords close briefly & the resulting sound is a hiccup.Eat a tsp of dry sugar.Drink water from the top rim of the glass.Google: mayo clinic>>diseases>>hiccups

Why do newborns get the hiccups so often?

Q: This did not happen with my first son. My second son is a hiccup monster! I burp him thoroughly and he still gets the hiccups. Anything you can suggest as to why this may be happening?

A: try burping him higher up on the back. With kids positioning of the hands while burping can vary. He might still have bubble guts from all that milk.

Why does a spoonful of sugar cure the hiccups?

Q: I didn’t believe it when I heard it. Swallow a teaspoon of sugar and your hiccups go away. One day when I had a particularly long and painful case of the hiccups, this is what my roommate told me. It was a new home remedy to me, I’d never ever heard that one before. I’d tried holding my breath, getting startled, drinking a glass of water while holding my breath… None of the home remedies had ever worked for me. She told me that she had been the same, until she tried this one she’d gotten from her genius ex-girlfriend. I figured anything is worth a shot, so I tried it. I was shocked when it worked. But it works for me, and that’s what’s important. The reason I told you all of this is so that I don’t get a bunch of responses saying that this doesn’t work, or that I should try some other remedy. I know how to cure MY hiccups, and that’s all I need.Now, I would like to know if anyone knows the scientific reason why this works. I’ve heard a few different ones, I want the truth.

A: Hiccups are little more than a reflex. You get them when the vagus nerve or one of its branches, which runs from the brain to the abdomen, is irritated.The home remedies used to stop hiccups are believed to work on two principles. One way to stifle hiccups is to overwhelm the vagus nerve with another sensation. The vagus nerve signals the brain that more important matters have arisen, so it’s time to knock off the hiccups. Sweeten the hiccups. Overloading the nerve endings in the mouth with a sweet sensation may do the trick. Have a teaspoonful of sugar, and if you can, place the sugar on the back of the tongue, where “sour” is tasted. This way, the sugar overload will pack the most punch.