Does your heart stop beating when you hiccup?

The heart does not stop when a person hiccups. Hiccups are contractions in the muscle, known as the diaphragm, that separates the abdomen from the chest, explains Mayo Clinic.

During a hiccup, the vocal cords are closed momentarily to produce the sound of the hiccup due to the spasm of the diaphragm, which pulls air into the lungs during inhalation. There are several common causes of hiccups, including excitement, the consumption of a large meal or alcohol. Usually hiccups last less than 48 hours; however, assessment by a health care provider is recommended for prolonged cases as they may indicate an underlying condition, explains Patient.co.uk.