Irritation of diaphragm causes it to twitch which manifests as hiccups. Or the malfunctioning phrenic nerve would give rise to hiccups.
There are many folk stories and traditional myths associated with hiccups. However, hiccups are a physiological condition. It is not a medical condition but at the same time, it is not a normal physiological occurrence. Hiccups are associated with your respiratory tract. An important sheet-like muscle, called diaphragm, separates chest from abdomen. Diaphragm experiences sudden involuntary contractions which are followed by closing of vocal cords. When vocal cords close they produce the sound ‘hic’. Hiccups are usually caused after overeating, alcohol consumption, and drinking fizzy drinks and sometimes by sudden fear and excitement. Hiccups are uncomfortable and exhausting. They usually last for a couple of minutes.
