Research has shown that orgasm may be an effective remedy for hiccups. Doctors suggest that stimulating the vagus nerve (which plays a role in controlling hiccups) can be achieved through various means, including orgasm. They believe that most patients would likely prefer this method over the more radical rectal massage.
In 2006, Dr. Francis Fesmire from the University of Tennessee’s medical faculty received an Ig Nobel Prize for his unusual method of stopping hiccups. In his research, he described a technique that helped a patient suffering from persistent hiccups for three days. After failing with traditional remedies, the doctor applied rectal massage, which immediately stopped the hiccups. Despite its success, Fesmire later admitted that there is a much more pleasant way to cure hiccups.
Surprising Hiccup Stats & Fun Facts!
430 million times – that's how many hiccups Charles Osborne had in his lifetime while suffering from the longest recorded case of hiccups, which lasted for 68 years.
Hiccups are more fascinating than you think - check out these surprising stats and fun facts!
300,000 people – the estimated number of people hiccuping around the world at any given moment.
240,000 times – the average number of hiccups a person experiences in a lifetime. This means that if someone lives 80 years, they will hiccup approximately 3,000 times per year, or around 8 times a day - of course, unless they end up in a real "hiccup marathon"!
Hiccups are not exclusive to humans—they occur in many mammals as well. Cats, dogs, and horses can experience hiccups, just like us. In fact, some scientists believe that hiccups in animals might serve a biological purpose, such as helping young mammals regulate their breathing.
Hiccups can start even before birth. From the 25th week of pregnancy, a fetus may begin hiccuping, which is considered a normal part of development.
Men are more likely to suffer from chronic hiccups than women. The exact reason remains unclear, but short-term hiccups occur almost equally in both men and women.
The frequency of hiccups can vary from 4 to 60 times per minute, depending on the cause and individual physiological factors. On average, most hiccup episodes occur at a rate of around 20–30 times per minute, but in rare cases, this number can be higher. For instance, in cases of chronic hiccups caused by neurological disorders, diaphragmatic spasms may become more intense and prolonged.
In almost every culture around the world, there is a belief that hiccups start when someone is thinking or talking about you. In some countries, it’s seen as a good omen, while in others, it’s a warning of gossip. Many traditions suggest that if you guess who is thinking about you, the hiccups will stop immediately. But if that trick doesn’t work, don’t worry—there are plenty of other ways to stop hiccups! Check out our collection of home remedies and find the one that works best for you. The loudest recorded hiccup reached 129 decibels, which is comparable to the noise level of a rock concert or a jet engine on a runway. For comparison, normal human conversation is around 60 dB, while a car horn is about 110 dB. This extreme volume could have been caused by a sudden diaphragm contraction and the unique structure of the person’s vocal cords. While such cases are extremely rare, they prove that hiccups can be not only annoying but also literally deafening!