It is a reflex, caused when the vagus nerve is tickled in a few places in its path. Now this nerve, which forms a “reflex arc”, runs from the diaphragm, an enormous muscle supporting the heart and lungs at the intersection of the belly and thorax, to the brain (where its control is located) via the stomach then the esophagus upstream. At all these stages therefore, the vagus nerve can be called upon.
It then produces an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, spasmodically, like a cramp
, describes Professor Jérôme Viala, head of the department of gastroenterology and pediatric nutrition at Robert-Debré hospital (Paris).
A purely muscular phenomenon
The hiccup is thus a purely muscular phenomenon, triggered most often by distension of the stomach (a festive meal) which pushes on the diaphragm.
Another common cause of hiccups is an overly spicy dish that causes temporary inflammation of the digestive lining, which arouses the vagus nerve.
If it persists or recurs, it is better to consult to rule out all the more serious (and much rarer) reasons for vagus nerve stimulation on its path.
, advises the specialist. In these cases, it is most often the consequences of gastroesophageal reflux, which can be treated.
Finally, to resolve a banal hiccup, tricks are king: drinking upside down (lips on the opposite edge of the glass, head tilted to access the water) always works: it is a kind of self-hypnosis where the you are focused on this uncomfortable way of emptying your glass, not your hiccups. A fear proceeds from the same mode of action.
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