Question

Salina was having dinner with her family. Suddenly she got hiccups. Her mother gave her a glass of water and asked her to gulp it down. After sometime the hiccup stopped.
a) Why do you think Salina got hiccups?
b) How did drinking water help her to recover from it?

Answer 1

(a) Salina got hiccups due to the sudden movement of the diaphragm (jerk). This causes the air to rush into the lungs, followed by quick closing of the vocal cords. This produces a sound.

(b) Drinking cold water relieves the irritation produced in the diaphragm and as a result of which it continues the normal movement. ​Thus, preventing the hiccups.