Hiccups can be quite annoying especially when they go on for a longer period of time.
They are brought about by the contraction of the diaphragm hence leading to the closure of the vocal cords. This forces air into your throat hence leading to the production of the 'hic' sound.
Most hiccups disappear after a few minutes while others can take even up to at least two weeks and this requires urgent medical attention.
The hiccups are as a result of many factors according to Antony Komaroff, a Health Editor from Harvard Medical School.
Some of them include and not limited to the following;
1. Drinking carbonated drinks or too much alcohol
Consumption of these drinks results to an increased amount of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream which ought to be deleted as soon as possible. This hence makes people to involuntarily expel the gas by hiccuping.
2. Feeling nervous or excited
Your emotional state can contribute to hiccups since your body releases certain hormones to help you cope with the situation at hand. The adrenaline produced when you are anxious hinders your breathing and this can lead to hiccups.
3. Eating too fast or even having a gastro-oesophagal disease
According to John. P. Cuhna, a medical author, the moment you take your food so fast, you end up swallowing a lot of air which causes the hiccups. In addition, gastro-oesophagal diseases can also lead to irritation of the diaphragm making your breathing hard thus causing hiccups.