It’s known that sneezing is a reflex to prevent dust or nose hairs or whatever from getting down into the lungs, but why do people and animals sometimes get hiccups? What function does that serve, and what causes them?

Also, bonus points for any random useful tips on how to make hiccups go away…

  • CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social
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    10 months ago

    Anecdotally, I’ve noticed that I very consistently (as in, nearly 100% of the time) get hiccups while shaving, almost always whenever I get to the parts under my chin or the sides of my neck, with the severity getting worse the longer it takes me to do those areas. I’m kinda curious why that might happen, especially if hiccups have to do with food (I obviously don’t eat anything while shaving). Every time I’ve asked someone about this when the topic of hiccups comes up somewhere, they’ve told me this doesn’t happen to them and have never heard of it being a thing, so maybe I’m just weird that way? Kinda frustrating tbh as I’ve yet to find a way to prevent it.

    • over_clox@lemmy.worldOP
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      10 months ago

      Now that does sound rather unusual and annoying. I’ve never experienced or heard of that happening either, but I don’t doubt you.

      Have you tried testing between handheld razors vs motorized beard trimmers? Maybe one or the other might be less likely to cause you that… 🤷‍♂️

      • CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social
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        10 months ago

        I’ve always used electric shavers, as I greatly prefer not having to deal with constantly buying replacement blades for the more traditional kind. I’ve had my suspicions that maybe the vibration has something to do with it, but I’ve no idea how it would do so.

    • owatnext@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      I give myself hiccups if I cough too hard. It sucks. Also if I eat food that is too spicy, which sucks because I love spicy. Too bad lol I eat it anyways and just deal with the hiccups.

        • owatnext@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          It was my avatar for R*ddit for like nine years, it felt weird to not see it when using alternatives like Lemmy.

          Edit: and to you as well.