Hiccups are caused by involuntary contractions of your diaphragm which is the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing.
This involuntary contraction causes your vocal cords to close very briefly, which produces the characteristic sound of a hiccup.
Some illnesses for which continuing hiccups may be a symptom include: pleurisy of the diaphragm, pneumonia, uremia, alcoholism, disorders of the stomach or esophagus, and bowel diseases.
Hiccups may also be associated with pancreatitis, pregnancy, bladder irritation, liver cancer or hepatitis.
There's limited evidence that anyone has died as a direct result of the hiccups.
However, long lasting hiccups can have a negative impact on your overall health.
Having hiccups for a long time can disrupt things like: eating and drinking.
The majority of persistent hiccups are caused by injury or irritation to either the vagus or phrenic nerve.
The vagus and phrenic nerves control the movement of your diaphragm.
These nerves may be affected by: irritation of your eardrum, which may be caused by a foreign object.
When you have hiccups and need to get rid of the hiccups fast try holding your breath and swallowing while holding your breath three times.
If that doesn't work then try holding your breath again and swallowing again another 3 or 6 times.
Usually the holding my breath and swallowing 3 times gets rid of my hiccups.
You can also get rid of hiccups by breathing into a paper bag or drinking a glass of water fast.
Gargling water or pulling on your tongue also helps get rid of hiccups or swallowing a spoonful of sugar can also help stop the hiccups.
Hiccups will eventually go away whether or not you do anything to stop them so if all else fails just waiting it out will stop the hiccups.