Despite being so natural and common, hiccups are very uncomfortable. But do you know what makes someone have a hiccup?
The hiccup is nothing more than an irritation of the phrenic nerve. This nerve originates in the neck and passes between the lung and the heart to reach the diaphragm.
The phrenic nerve is very important for breathing, as it is it that passes the motor information to the diaphragm and receives sensory information from it. The diaphragm and phrenic nerve are very close to the stomach. Because of this, any change in the organ can harm them.
Photo: depositphotos
When the hiccup can happen
Sometimes, when we eat drinks or foods that tend to inflate the stomach, this organ can swell, causing irritation of the phrenic nerve, which causes the diaphragm to contract.
When this occurs, the air breathes in and, at the same time, the glottis closes. That is, the diaphragm does not notice that the glottis was suddenly closed, suddenly cutting the passage of air from the mouth to the lungs. This process then causes the vocal cords to vibrate, causing the characteristic hiccup sound.
In other cases, the hiccup may be a stomach or esophageal problem, such as gastritis, esophagitis, gallbladder disease, among other problems. And at other times, inflammation of the phrenic nerve has an unknown cause.
How to stop irritation
There are several myths and stories about how to stop a hiccup: planting a banana, getting scared, drinking water, among many others. But experts warn that the best way to stop hiccups is to hold your breath, stopping breathing through your nose and mouth for a while. But her grandmother was also right and, according to the professionals, drinking water by turning it all at once is also a way to help stop sobbing.
