Q. I hiccup when I laugh really hard. What is the reason for that? – Beth, Cincinnati
A. Welcome to the club. Many people experience singultus (that’s science-speak for hiccups) when they laugh, cry or experience some strong emotion. But why it happens is one of those medical mysteries, like why public speaking and seeing the love of our life both give us the sensation that butterflies are rioting in our stomachs. It has to do with nerves that are related to your vagus. But unlike the city, what happens in vagus doesn’t stay in vagus, so you hiccup as well as laugh. Good news: They’re nothing to worry about unless you can’t make them go away. These uncontrollable spasms of your diaphragm usually respond to home remedies that stimulate different nerves that might be involved. Remedies include eating something (maybe a spoonful of sugar), breathing into a bag, holding your breath, belching or, what a friend’s grandmother recommended, holding your breath and thinking of the last time you saw a priest. No matter what you do to stop them, don’t let the hiccups stop you from laughing.
