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We're not sure why people get hiccups. It seems like every species has its cross to bear and hiccups is ours (along with death and taxes). To learn about the basic biological causes of hiccups, we turned to KidsHealth.org. They explain that hiccups are a result of irregular movement by the diaphragm, the muscle that helps you expand and contract your lungs. The site even offers a Shockwave animation of the respiratory system, complete with hiccups, sneezes, and coughs. We also tracked down a more scientific document, titled The Function of Hiccups, written by a doctor explaining his thoughts on the "longitudinal muscle." Like any medical information
you find on the Internet, you'll need to check the source for accuracy. Luckily, the good doctor has provided a complete bibliography for his article. Finally, there are a number of sites that describe "cures" for hiccups, none of which ever seem to work when you really, really need to stop making loud, bleating noises in public. Check out BeautyLink for a suggested cure and a list of the most popular traditional remedies.
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