Misconceptions about Hiccups- mental_floss on YouTube (Ep. 45)

TL;DR

Common remedies for hiccups such as holding your breath, having someone scare you, breathing into a paper bag, and drinking water have no scientific evidence of being effective.

Transcript

hi I'm Ellie this is Mental Floss video today I'm going to talk about some misconceptions about getting rid of hiccups okay I want to start by saying that experts still aren't even sure why and how we get the hiccups they believe it involves the Vagas nerve Central processor and diaphragm so most treatments at this point are just old wives tales we... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ The causes of hiccups are not fully understood by experts.
• 🥹 Many common remedies for hiccups, such as holding your breath and being scared, have no scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness.
• 💦 Drinking water and consuming lemon with bitters may provide some relief, but further research is needed.
• 👍 Acupuncture, hiccup lollipops, hypnotherapy, and medication have mixed results and insufficient evidence to prove their effectiveness.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do experts believe holding your breath can help with hiccups?

Holding your breath is believed to potentially decrease persistent hiccups by increasing carbon dioxide intake, but scientific studies have not proven this yet.

Q: Is scaring someone an effective way to get rid of hiccups?

No, scaring someone is not an effective remedy for hiccups, and there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.

Q: Can breathing into a paper bag help with hiccups?

Breathing into a paper bag does not increase carbon dioxide levels enough to affect hiccups, and scientific reviews have found this technique to be unsupported by evidence.

Q: Does drinking water help in getting rid of hiccups?

Drinking water may help in 80-90% of cases, but there is no scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness. However, it is a harmless remedy that can be tried.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Experts are still unsure about the causes of hiccups, resulting in most treatments being old wives tales.

• Holding your breath, having someone scare you, and breathing into a paper bag are ineffective remedies according to studies.

• Drinking water and consuming lemon with bitters may have some promise, but evidence is limited.