Hiccups

body reflex · weird but normal · breathing

Your diaphragm spasms. A hiccup happens when the diaphragm, the big muscle under your lungs that controls breathing, suddenly contracts all by itself. You can't stop it because it's involuntary, meaning your brain does it without you deciding to.

The 'hic' sound explained. The funny 'hic' noise comes from your vocal cords snapping shut super fast, about 35 milliseconds after your diaphragm contracts. This quick closing of the space between your vocal cords is what makes that distinctive sound.

A reflex arc action. Hiccups are a reflex, which means a signal zips through your nerves automatically without you thinking about it. Once the reflex starts, your body just has to go through with the whole hiccup.

They repeat rapidly. When you get hiccups, they usually happen over and over again, sometimes several times every minute. Most hiccup fits only last a few minutes, but occasionally they can go on longer.