Why It Happens

Have you ever been mid-bite of your favorite meal when – out of nowhere – your diaphragm spasms and you let out an unexpected “hic!”? Why does our body decide to interrupt us like that?
Let’s break it down. Deep inside your rib cage lives your diaphragm—a dome-shaped muscle that’s your body’s built-in air pump, helping you breathe in and out. Normally it contracts smoothly and rhythmically, pulling air into your lungs. But sometimes, for reasons we don’t fully control, it twitches or spasms. That sudden contraction snaps your vocal cords shut in a fraction of a second, causing that signature “hic” sound.
So what triggers the twitch? Often it’s something simple: eating too fast, gulping a fizzy drink, or laughing while you swallow. All of these actions can irritate the diaphragm or the nerves that control it. Sudden temperature changes—like sipping a steaming hot soup followed by an icy sip of water—can do it too. It’s less about complex chemistry and more about a little miscommunication in your body’s breathing machinery.
Here’s a fun thought: hiccups might have an evolutionary root. Some scientists guess they helped our ancient ancestors coordinate breathing and swallowing—especially newborn mammals nursing at the same time they breathe. Whether that theory holds, hiccups today are mostly harmless, though they can be a social nuisance.
Now, everyone wants a quick cure. Holding your breath is a classic: you take a deep inhale, pinch your nose, and hold on. That extra CO₂ in your bloodstream seems to reset your diaphragm’s rhythm. Other tricks? Sipping cold water, swallowing a teaspoon of sugar, or even startling yourself. None of these are guaranteed, but they distract your body long enough to calm the spasm.
For most of us, hiccups last a minute or two—annoying but fleeting. If they stick around for hours, that’s a different story, and you’d want to check in with a doctor. But short-lived hiccups? Just another reminder of how intricate and perfectly balanced our everyday bodily functions really are.
So next time you hiccup in a quiet room, don’t be embarrassed. You’re witnessing a tiny piece of biology in action—your diaphragm’s momentary glitch. And who knows? Maybe you’ll appreciate the marvel of your own body’s engineering a little more.
What about you? Do you have a favorite hiccup cure, or a funny hiccup story? Let me know what you think in the comments on the podcast, at englishpluspodcast.com, or over on our Patreon page!