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…

  • over_clox@lemmy.worldOP
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    6 months ago

    From my understanding, that’s actually what causes mammals to yawn. No idea why it seems ‘contagious’ though, obviously yawning is more of a voluntary reflex. So why is it that if you see someone else yawn, you’re likely to also yawn? 🤷‍♂️

    • Anticorp
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      6 months ago

      Maybe your brain is like “oh shit, maybe I need some oxygen too!”