When my father was in his 80's, he began to be bothered by bouts of hiccupping. These bouts would just come on and neither he nor anyone present at the time could do anything that would stop the episode. He passed on just short of his 90th birthday of causes having nothing to do with hiccupping. Now, I am in my 70's, and I have noticed I have a bout of hiccupping almost every morning. It takes several hiccups to get my attention. I then hold my breath for a bit. This experience led me to do a little searching on the Internet. [ed.]
A hiccough is an extraordinary type of breathing movement involving a sudden intake of air (inspiration) due to an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm accompanied by closure of the vocal apparatus (glottis) of the larynx. A hiccough is also called a hiccup.
The abrupt inspiration is the result of a sudden contraction of the diaphragm. Closure of the glottis then halts the incoming air. The column of air strikes the closed glottis to produce the characteristic sound: a hiccup.
Hiccups are often rhythmic. If self-limited, they are just a minor nuisance, but prolonged hiccups can become a major medical problem.
The word "hiccup" was in use by 1530. It is an instance of onomatopoeia, the imitation of natural sounds by words. Alternative terms for "hiccough" and "hiccups" include "hickup" and "singultus".
Everyone has a pet remedy for hiccups. A few tactics do make sense and may be based on physiology as well as folklore. One technique is to increase carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which may decrease the sensitivity of the vagus nerve in the brain. That nerve, one of the longest in the body, sends branches to many muscle groups, including those in the diaphragm. One can boost carbon dioxide levels by holding one's breath, by rebreathing the air exhaled into a paper bag for a few minutes, or by slowly sipping a glass of water without pausing to take a breath.
Pass on your experience with your cure for hiccupping.