Tuesday, April 2, 2013

9.4 Hiccups


When you get the hiccups, it sometimes seems like they’ll never go away. Do you have a special trick for making them stop?  Most people do. But can any of these methods be proven scientifically? 
The answer is “yes.” Some people get rid of their hiccups by holding their breath and counting to ten. This increases the carbon dioxide in your blood, which decreases the sensitivity of the part of your brain that makes you hiccup. Some people recommend pulling on your tongue. This stimulates the nerves in the back of your throat, which interrupts the hiccups. Placing sugar under your tongue has a similar effect, because sugar affects the nerves that control the hiccups.
There are other methods, too. Some people drink water from different sides of the same glass. Others rely on a sudden scare. Perhaps there are hidden scientific explanations for these methods as well, even though they haven’t been proven yet!


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