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…

  • @RozhkiNozhki@lemmy.world
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    78 months ago

    There was an explanation for it in The Inner Fish book. I’m fuzzy about the details, it’s been a while since I read this but essentially it is to prevent drowning when critters switch from gills to lungs like tadpoles.