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Article: Hiccup Havoc: everyone gets hiccups, but what causes them? Read on to find out.
- Article from:
- Scholastic Choices
- Article date:
- November 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Between snoring, burping, and sneezing, the human body makes a lot of funny noises. The strangest of these sounds, however, may just be the one that we have the least control over--hiccups.
What exactly are the hiccups? "They are the result of involuntary contractions in your diaphragm, a muscle that rests between your lungs and your belly," says Dr. Larissa Hirsch, a pediatrician and a member of the Nemours Center for Children's Health Media, an organization that provides health information for families.
The diaphragm helps people breathe. When a person inhales, it stretches downward to help draw air into the lungs. When a person exhales, the diaphragm ...