Hic, Hic, Hic – got the hiccups ey?
- Hiccups are known as ‘Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter’ or ‘singultus’ in medical terms.
- Hiccups or singultus comes from the Latin word ‘singult’ which means ‘the act of catching ones breath while one is sobbing’.
- Hiccuping can be caused by quick eating, soft drinks, alcohol, dry breads, some spicy foods and laughing.
- Hiccups repeat many times a minute.
- The hiccups can be self-cured easily.
Sound Clip: Hiccup
Sound courtesy of Mike Koenig /Sound Bible
- American Charles Osborne had hiccups for 68 years (1922- February 1990) and won a Guinness World Record.
- Only mammals can have hiccups.
- Hiccups are also commonly known as hiccoughs.
- An arc reflex involving the diaphragm and glottis make the ‘hic’ noise.
- Hiccups are normally only treated for long, continuous durations.
Bibliography:
Hiccup 12 November 2012 , Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiccup>
