ELI5: why do i hiccup

You hiccup because your diaphragm, a muscle that helps you breathe, gets irritated and spasms.

Imagine your chest and tummy are separated by a bouncy trampoline – that's your diaphragm! It usually moves up and down smoothly to help you suck in air (like when you're blowing up a balloon) and push air out (like when the balloon deflates).

Sometimes, this trampoline gets a little jumpy. It could be for a few reasons:

• Eating too fast: Imagine stuffing too much food into your mouth at once. It can push against your tummy and irritate the diaphragm.
• Drinking fizzy drinks: All those bubbles can stretch your tummy and bother the diaphragm. It's like poking the trampoline!
• Feeling nervous or excited: Sometimes big feelings can make your body do funny things, including making your diaphragm twitch.
• Sudden temperature changes: Imagine drinking ice water right after eating something hot. This can sometimes shock your system and trigger a hiccup.

Hiccups are usually harmless and go away on their own. People have lots of silly tricks to try and get rid of them, like holding their breath or drinking water upside down, but often they just stop eventually. So, next time you hiccup, remember it's just your bouncy trampoline having a little moment!