Attack of the Killer Hiccups

[jethrien]

I currently have a horrendous case of hiccups. Nothing is working - not water, diaphragm exercises, sugar, nothing. And it's making me cough - and everytime I cough, I hiccup again. My coworkers can hear me though a glass wall and are laughing at me. It's really, really awful.

Comments

[lyriendel.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Usually I do something close to the second remedy in this quote, and that works pretty well for me (I suspect it's doing something similar to the first remedy, increasing your blood CO2 levels):

"However, one respiratory remedy has a fairly sound rationale underlying it. Breathing into a bag or small enclosed container (ensuring that it is completely sealed around the mouth and nose) induces a state that is termed respiratory acidosis. The effect is caused by increasing the amount of inspired carbon dioxide, which then increases the serum level of carbon dioxide. These increased levels of CO2 lower the pH in the blood, hence creating a state of acidosis. This state of acidosis produces vasodilation and depression of the central nervous system. The effect allows for increased blood flow to the affected muscles, and suppression of the aberrant nervous impulses. Inducing a state of acidemia through hyperventilation is particularly effective in curing hiccups because the diaphragm rests directly against the pulmonary vasculature that is then flowing with especially low pH blood. This is a potentially dangerous action; and should only be done with another person present. As the serum CO2 level rises abruptly, the person will begin to feel lightheaded and within a few minutes will pass out. If done without a spotter, the person might either injure him or herself as he or she passes out, or pass out in such a way that the bag or container continues to prevent oxygen intake (see also asphyxia).

Additionally, another respiratory remedy, while having no sound scientific principle behind it, is paradoxically one of the most effective in treating persistent hiccups. One breathes out all the air that they are able to in one long exhalation then breathes in all the air they feel they possibly can in one continuous inhalation. The person then attempts to breathe in even more air in a series of short powerful puffs, until their lungs cannot hold any more. The person remains in this state for as long as they feel they can hold that breath in. Although the success rate is not 100%, many people find this method consistently works."

Good luck!

[shnayder.livejournal.com]

I'm confused: the first thing they say (breathing into a bag), will increase CO2 and blood acidity. And it seems to suggest that can help. And then they say that hyperventilation, which decreases CO2 and blood acidity, also helps. So which is it?

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

The answer is that no one actually knows what starts hiccups in the first place, so no one actually knows how to stop them. There's a bunch of ways that sometimes help, but nothing foolproof, and they don't actually know why the ones that sort of work do so.

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

Extradimensional hiccup elves, obviously. And if you do something silly enough that the elves fall over laughing, you stop hiccuping. That, or sometimes they get bored and go away.

And they looooove feiran.

[(Anonymous)]

No, no, hyperventilation into the bag. You'll start hyperventilating because of the increased CO2 levels, but you're doing it in an atmosphere of low oxygen.

[lyriendel.livejournal.com]

darnit, why can't this stupid browser ever remember my login consistently?