Why Do Hiccups Happen?

on July 10, 2023

Hi! Welcome back to the Kids Answers magazine blog, where we answer your big questions about God’s Word and God’s world.

Have you ever eaten a really big meal and left the dinner table with pesky hiccups? Most of us have experienced hiccups at least once in our lives. Even babies get them! Why?

Hiccups come from a muscle below our lungs called the diaphragm (DIE-uh-fram). Your diaphragm helps you breathe in and out. But sometimes, when we eat a lot, eat too quickly, or feel nervous or excited, the muscle becomes irritated and stops working properly. Instead of opening and closing when you inhale and exhale, your diaphragm spasms. This causes your vocal cords to close suddenly, creating a “hic” sound.

Though hiccups can be annoying, they usually only last a few minutes. But you’ve probably heard about all kinds of ways to get rid of them, like holding your breath, drinking water, or having someone scare you. Some people also suggest pulling on your tongue, sucking on a lemon, swallowing some sugar, or eating a spoonful of peanut butter. One doctor even invented a straw-like device called “HiccAway” that helps get rid of hiccups. Do you know of any other ways to make hiccups go away? Let us know!

Though our bodies are affected by our fallen world, we can still be sure that our Creator designed us fearfully and wonderfully.

After Adam and Eve sinned, our bodies stopped working perfectly. Now, sometimes things go wrong—like your diaphragm acting up, causing you to hiccup. Though our bodies are affected by our fallen world, we can still be sure that our Creator designed us fearfully and wonderfully (Psalm 139:14)!

Fun Facts

  • Everyone has their own unique hiccup pattern.
  • Most people hiccup between every 2 and 25 seconds.
  • Almost all mammals can get hiccups.
  • Babies hiccup more than kids and adults.
  • The longest bout of hiccups lasted for 68 years! Charles Osborne, the man who holds the record, hiccupped about 430 million times.

Do you have a question about God’s Word or his world that you want us to answer? Is there a topic you want to learn more about? Ask your parents to help you submit your question today. We’d love to hear from you!