We answer a listener's question about hiccups. Brianna, hiccups happen because of spasmodic contractions of your diaphragm. When your diaphragm contracts, your lungs inhale sharply.
People hiccup from childhood though old age.
Pregnant women sometimes feel their babies hiccuping inside the womb. That irritation causes your diaphragm to contract repeatedly and irregularly. Increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in your body can reduce the hiccups' frequency. That's why holding your breath might work. Thanks, Brianna for your good question.