What Causes Hiccups?

Drinking Too Quickly

Again, this cause of hiccups is related to airflow and over-indulgence. Drinking too quickly, or drinking a lot of carbonated beverages, can displace the air in the lungs. It can also create a lot of excess air and gas in the stomach that needs to be released. Individuals who drink too quickly probably deal with a lot of burping and indigestion as well, because all of these things are connected. The gas buildup in the stomach, combined with the displacement of air in the lungs, creates a reaction we know as a hiccup. Generally, if an individual slows their breathing and drinks more purposefully, they can alleviate hiccups or avoid them entirely.