You & Me

Everybody at some point or the other has had an embarrassing moment with hiccups. Scientifically speaking, hiccups are sudden contractions which take place involuntarily, in the muscles of the diaphragm. With repeated contractions, the opening present between the vocal chords is shut, and the inflow of air is checked. This causes the hiccups. Any irritation caused to the nerves stretching from the neck and reaching up to the chest also kicks off bouts of hiccups. There are many old wives tales of stopping hiccups and many myths attached to it too. Some of the many ways to stop a bout of hiccups is to breathe heavily and repeatedly into any bag preferably a paper bag. Other remedies include eating a spoonful of sugar or drinking a glass of water.