So one day I was having some bad hiccups... you know, the obnoxious kind complete with strangled noise and chest jerks. However, this experience unlike the numerous prior episodes of hiccups triggered an intellectual brainstorm about breathing and stridor in general. FACT: Hiccups (aka singultus) are due to brief, intermittent, and involuntary diaphragm contractions against a closed glottis. For the layperson, this means during a hiccup: Your body takes a quick breath inwards (inhalati…
