WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
When I was in the seventh grade, I experienced hiccups one time in class. Mrs. Lasko, our teacher, had a cure, which consisted of going with her to the drinking fountain and while I put my fingers in my ears, she turned on the fountain while I drank as much water as I could. The hiccups went away. I don’t know if the cure came about because of her actions, or if they went away because of the fear of having Mrs. Lasko making me stand there gulping down water for the rest of the afternoon.
Hiccups are repeated spasms or sudden movements of the diaphragm that you can’t control. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates your chest from your stomach area and plays an important role in breathing. A spasm in your diaphragm causes your vocal cords to suddenly close, producing a “hic” sound.
Eating a large meal, drinking alcoholic or carbonated beverages, or getting excited suddenly may cause hiccups. In some cases, hiccups may be a sign of an underlying medical issue. For most people, hiccups usually last only a few minutes. Rarely, hiccups may continue for months. When they last that long, they can result in weight loss and extreme tiredness. Make an appointment to see your health care provider if your hiccups last more than 48 hours, or if they’re so severe that they cause issues with eating, sleeping, or breathing.
A word of caution to remember when showering. When cleaning your navel, you’ll want to do a thorough job, but you should be careful not to clean too harshly. The danger comes should you get your navel untied. Should this happen, the chances are that your cord would come loose and your body would fly around the shower stall like a deflated balloon. This can not only be very embarrassing, but getting your cord wrapped up again might require the help of a physician.
See you Out and About!
Submitted by Norm Stutesman
