Hiccups happen when the muscles in your throat and chest suddenly tighten. This normally occurs if you eat or drink too much, or too fast. Most hiccups disappear in a few minutes, but sometimes an attack may last for several hours. Although hiccups usually stop eventually, everyone seems to have a favourite cure. Cures include a sudden shock, holding your breath and trying to sneeze, or even dropping a cold key down the back of your neck! Hiccups can sometimes lead to complications. A really bad attack can starve the body of oxygen and can even lead to death.