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.