Why do you get hiccups on an empty stomach?

Answer 1

Hiccups occur when the diaphragm in your stomach becomes irritated. if u want to read more then go ahead but this is the main idea, the whole story is more detailed... :p

Hiccupping is a totally useless experience, but most of us did it even before we were born and will keep on doing it every now and then for the rest of our lives. Why? Nobody is really sure. Some scientists believe that hiccupping is the last vestige of a primitive reflex that at one time served us a purpose, but not anymore.

Hiccups are gulping sounds caused by involuntary spasms of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen and helps with breathing. Hiccups can be triggered if you eat too much or too fast, consume very hot or cold foods and beverages, or drink Carbonated Beverages. Simple hiccups may respond to a variety of folk remedies, e.g. a sudden fright, breath-holding, or drinking a large glass of water without taking a breath. Most of such remedies have the common feature in that they interrupt breathing and so could increase the level of carbon dioxide circulating in the blood. An increased arterial carbon dioxide level in turn increases the drive to the respiratory system and the assumption is that this enables the modularly respiratory centre to suppress interruptions (hiccups) to its ongoing rhythmic activity. However, in the rare cases of chronic hiccups, attention has to be directed to diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease state, to remove the triggering factors. If no underlying disease can be found, or if a drug is inducing the hiccups but that drug is essential to some other treatment, the condition may have to be treated symptomatically using an agent that will simply suppress it. Other causes include cold showers, entering or leaving a hot or cold room, sudden excitement, and stress.

In regards to the physiological process behind hiccupping, some information and speculations exist, but a complete answer has not yet been determined. A hiccup is not simply a twitch of the diaphragm but a complex motor act. During one, the diaphragm and the complete set of aspiratory muscles (intercostals muscles, neck muscles and others) make a sudden, very strong, contraction. The expiratory muscles are also strongly inhibited. Just after the contraction begins, the glottis (commonly called the vocal cords) clamp shut, making the "hic" sound. Before the diaphragm contracts, the roof of the mouth moves up, as does the back of the tongue, and there is often an associated burp. The heart slows a bit as well. In addition, hiccups are seldom isolated events but tend to recur every few seconds, sometimes for hours.

Answer 2

Its not actually your stomach that hiccups, its your diaphragm which sits at the bottom of your rib cage and contracts and expands as you breathe. Hiccups is the result of your diaphragm spasming or rapidly contracting.