Unexplainable Podcast Episode Summary: "How to Stop Your Hiccups"

Release Date: April 9, 2025 | Host/Author: Vox | Episode: How to Stop Your Hiccups

Introduction

In the "How to Stop Your Hiccups" episode of Unexplainable, hosts Brian Resnik and Susan Ettlinger delve into the perplexing world of hiccups. This episode explores the scientific mysteries behind hiccups, investigates various triggers and remedies, and features insights from medical experts and personal anecdotes from listeners. By navigating through the unknown facets of this common yet elusive phenomenon, the episode aims to shed light on what causes hiccups and how they can be effectively managed.

The Enigma of Hiccups

The conversation kicks off with personal anecdotes about hiccups. Susan Ettlinger shares her frustrating experience with hiccups triggered by spicy foods:

Susan Ettlinger [01:07]: "I hate hiccups."

Brian Resnik engages listeners by sharing diverse hiccup triggers submitted by the audience, ranging from dry bread to baby carrots:

Brian Resnik [02:21]: "Everyone has their after midnight in New York City moment."

Understanding the Hiccup Reflex

The hosts delve into the physiological mechanics of hiccups, explaining the hiccup reflex:

Brian Resnik [05:47]: "A hiccup is when you have a nerve stimulating the diaphragm to contract quickly."

The diaphragm, a crucial muscle beneath the lungs, contracts suddenly, followed by the closure of the glottis—the opening at the top of the throat—resulting in the characteristic "hic" sound. This reflex arc typically repeats every few seconds, but the exact reasons behind its initiation remain partially understood.

Evolutionary Perspectives

Exploring deeper, they reference Dr. Kim Whitehead, a researcher who posits that hiccups in infants may aid in learning breath control:

Dr. Kim Whitehead [06:44]: "The hiccup might be a way for babies to learn how to control their own breathing when they are born."

Additionally, an evolutionary angle suggests that hiccups trace back to our amphibian ancestors, serving as a mechanism to prevent water from entering the lungs during gill-breathing:

Narrator [07:07]: "Tadpoles still hiccup... to prevent water from getting in their lungs."

Diverse Triggers of Hiccups

The episode highlights a wide array of hiccup triggers reported by listeners, both common and unconventional:

• Dry Bread: Causes an increase in swallowed air due to harder chewing, expanding the stomach and triggering the reflex.

  Susan Ettlinger [02:49]: "Bread. It has to be drier bread, like sourdough or baguettes."

• Baby Carrots: The smaller size may lead to faster consumption, similarly expanding the stomach.

  Brian Resnik [03:09]: "But if I eat one or two baby carrots, then I have these violent, socially disruptive hiccups."

• Washing the Left Ear: Possibly linked to Arnold's nerve, which can stimulate hiccups when irritated.

  Susan Ettlinger [09:25]: "Sometimes when I am washing my left ear, just my left ear, I hiccup."

• Lying: Psychological factors like anxiety or tension can induce diaphragmatic spasms.

  Brian Resnik [09:48]: "If you get your diaphragm rigid, that could stimulate a hiccup."

Exploring Remedies and Treatments

The quest to halt hiccups has led to a multitude of home remedies, ranging from the mundane to the bizarre. Brian Resnik shares popular remedies such as:

• Drinking Water: Holding and controlling breathing patterns.

  Susan Ettlinger [26:13]: "You fill up your lungs, and then you take another sip of air for good measure."

• Peanut Butter: The stickiness may disrupt the hiccup cycle by altering throat muscle activity.

  Brian Resnik [27:44]: "Just eat a spoonful of peanut butter."

However, the episode introduces a novel approach developed by Dr. Ali Seifi, a neurosurgeon and inventor of the Hiccaway device:

Ali Seifi [18:21]: "It's time to say goodbye to all of these silly tricks and instead say hello to Hiccaway."

Hiccaway aims to provide a standardized method to trigger the diaphragm effectively, thereby interrupting the hiccup loop. The device modifies straw pressure to achieve the necessary diaphragm contraction:

Brian Resnik [21:08]: "Imagine a 1 meter long straw in a glass of water, and how hard you would have to engage your diaphragm to suck water through that straw."

Despite Dr. Seifi's promising claims of 92% effectiveness compared to traditional remedies, Susan Ettlinger urges caution regarding potential biases, noting that the study was sponsored by the product's inventor:

Susan Ettlinger [23:19]: "I mean, ideally, if this was like medical intervention, you would give some people the Hiccaway and then you'd give some people like a straw that kind of looks like the Hiccaway."

Expert Insights and Critical Analysis

Dr. Tyler Simmit, a hiccup researcher, provides a critical perspective on the Hiccaway device, acknowledging its potential for acute hiccups but highlighting limitations for chronic cases:

Brian Resnik [24:40]: "This isn't a perfect cure."

Dr. Simmit emphasizes that while Hiccaway may offer temporary relief by overriding the hiccup reflex, it does not address underlying causes, which might require more intensive medical interventions:

Narrator [25:06]: "This only works once a hiccup starts."

Listener-Shared Remedies and Anecdotes

The episode showcases a variety of creative and sometimes humorous remedies shared by listeners:

• Focusing Techniques: Using concentration to disrupt the hiccup cycle.

  Susan Ettlinger [27:28]: "I had hiccups, and a friend of mine asked me to spell a word backwards and my hiccups stopped."

• Physical Maneuvers: Such as holding breaths, adjusting body posture, or even using objects like a steel table knife in water.

  Brian Resnik [27:04]: "Grab a tall glass of water and have 10 small sips and two big sips."

These shared stories underline the personalized nature of hiccup remedies, emphasizing that what works for one person may not work for another.

Conclusion

The "How to Stop Your Hiccups" episode of Unexplainable underscores the complexity of hiccups, revealing that despite being a common ailment, hiccups remain only partially understood. While numerous remedies exist, ranging from traditional techniques to innovative devices like Hiccaway, the lack of a universal cure highlights the need for continued research. The episode leaves listeners with an appreciation for the intricate interplay between physiology and psychology in managing hiccups, encouraging a blend of skepticism and open-mindedness towards potential treatments.

Brian Resnik [27:59]: "Because we still don't know exactly what would prevent a hiccup, it's kind of up to everyone to just keep stumbling around in the dark trying to deal with this mysterious ancient hiccup reflex with anything we can find."

Notable Quotes:

• Susan Ettlinger [01:07]: "I hate hiccups."
• Brian Resnik [05:47]: "A hiccup is when you have a nerve stimulating the diaphragm to contract quickly."
• Dr. Kim Whitehead [06:44]: "The hiccup might be a way for babies to learn how to control their own breathing when they are born."
• Ali Seifi [18:21]: "It's time to say goodbye to all of these silly tricks and instead say hello to Hiccaway."
• Susan Ettlinger [23:19]: "Ideally, if this was like medical intervention, you would give some people the Hiccaway and then you'd give some people like a straw that kind of looks like the Hiccaway."

This comprehensive exploration provides listeners with a deeper understanding of hiccups, blending scientific insights with real-world experiences to unravel the mysteries of this universal yet enigmatic reflex.