A kids’ guide to that funny little sound your body makes.
This is a learning page about how your body works. It is not medical advice.
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Hic! Hic! That funny sound is a hiccup.
Why does your body do that? Let’s find out, step by step.
Hic! Hic! That funny sound is a hiccup.
Every hiccup starts in one special muscle in your body. Let’s follow the steps and see exactly how it happens.
Every hiccup starts with a muscle called the diaphragm.
Say it like this: DYE-uh-fram
It is shaped like a dome. It sits at the bottom of your chest.
All hiccups start with the diaphragm (say: DYE-uh-fram).
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle. It sits at the bottom of your chest.
Your diaphragm helps you breathe. Here is how:
Breathe in. The diaphragm pulls down. That helps pull air into your lungs.
Breathe out. The diaphragm relaxes. Air flows back out through your nose and mouth.
Your diaphragm is a breathing muscle. Here is how it works:
Inhale (breathe in): the diaphragm pulls down to help pull air into your lungs.
Exhale (breathe out): the diaphragm relaxes, and air flows back out through your nose and mouth.
Sometimes, the diaphragm gets irritated. Then this happens:
The diaphragm pulls down in a jerky way. You suck air into your throat all of a sudden.
The air rushes in and hits your voice box.
Your vocal cords close suddenly — and you are left with a big hiccup: “Hic!”
Sometimes, the diaphragm becomes irritated. Then this happens:
The diaphragm pulls down in a jerky way, which makes you suck air into your throat suddenly.
The air rushing in hits your voice box.
Your vocal cords close suddenly — and you are left with a big hiccup: “Hic!”
This jerky pull is a spasm — a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle. Involuntary means it happens without you choosing to do it.
These things can irritate the diaphragm:
These things can irritate the diaphragm and start hiccups:
Almost all hiccups last only a few minutes. Then they stop.
If hiccups ever last a really long time, tell a grown-up. A doctor should check it out.
Almost all cases of hiccups last only a few minutes.
It is very unusual for hiccups to last for days or even months. That is usually a sign of another medical problem.
If hiccups ever last a really long time, tell a grown-up. A doctor should check it out.
People say these tricks might help. They are ideas people share — not promises!
Good to know: hiccups usually stop all by themselves in a few minutes anyway.
People say these tricks might help stop hiccups. They are suggestions people make — not promises that they work.
Good to know: hiccups usually stop all by themselves in a few minutes anyway.
The facts on this page come from Nemours KidsHealth — “What Causes Hiccups? (for Kids)” and the KidsHealth page for parents.
Nemours KidsHealth — “What Causes Hiccups? (for Kids)” and the KidsHealth page for parents. Every fact on this page comes from those pages.
This is a learning page about how your body works. It is not medical advice.