Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm — the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing. As a result, each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of your vocal cords, which produces the familiar “hic” sound.
In most cases, this condition starts after a large meal, alcoholic or carbonated drinks, or sudden excitement. However, it can sometimes signal an underlying medical issue. For most people, the episode lasts only a few minutes. Rarely, though, it may continue for months and, as a result, lead to weight loss and exhaustion.
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I’m Dr. Malini Bhat MD (Ayu); an Ayurvedic Doctor and a health blogger. Follow me on social media to get daily health tips which you can easily adapt to a healthy lifestyle.