What is the physiological reason for hiccups?

Spasm of the diaphragm I think.

Sounds right…spasms maybe. I know how to get rid of them…works every time unless you have some unusual case that is persistant and needs medical attention. Take a deep breath up in your lungs not a full stomach breath. Once you expand your chest continue to hold your chest out, BUT you can continue to breath shallowly. This gives the muscles the effect of holding your breath for a long time, but you are able to breath. Usually you can hold for 30 seconds and their gone…you will become accustomed to how long you personaly really need to do it. Let me know if it works :).

I know how to cure them. Just come here and and take some of….... AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Did I scare you? Are they gone?

I know how to get rid of them…works every time unless you have some unusual case that is persistant and needs medical attention

After enduring more than 24 hrs of non-stop hiccups, my doc prescribed one dose of Thorazine – fixed me right up. I’d still like to know what caused it, and why thorazine cured it.

Interesting. I had heard it can be used for hiccups. Thorazine is classified as an antipsychotic I think. Works on the nervous system in some way. Pretty sure it is sedating also…but I am not sure why it helps the hiccups? Interesting question.

I knew someone that had hiccups for 10 years!!!

One of the causes of hiccups is irritation to the vagus nerve (possibly another nerve as well, I can’t remember) so Thorazine probably works by interfering with the nerve signal (somehow), allowing the diaphragm to relax and recover.

I have people say that digital rectal stimulation ie inserting a finger in to the bottom can also stop hiccups. I wonder how they discovered that.