18 Jun Simple Tool Allows Patients to Stop Hiccups

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Seifi

Ali Seifi, MD, FACP, FNCS, FCCM
Associate Professor
Director of Neuro Critical Care,
Fellowship Director, CAST Neurosurgery Critical Care
Department of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Anesthesiology and Medicine
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: People get hiccups for several various reasons, most of the time is unknown etiology however the most known cause is when something is triggering the phrenic nerve which is a nerve that goes to the diaphragm and controls our breathing; as example any spicy food, alcoholic beverages, carbonated soda as well as eating fast can trigger this nerve.

So far, there has been no tool for treatment of hiccups instantly and this could be since the  exact etiology of hiccups is still unknown and is multifactorial. Our aim was to make a feasible and easy for the public to use, a simple tool that anybody can use at home to get rid of hiccups . We patented and made the FISST, which  is a tool that can stop hiccups instantly by distracting the nerves and muscles which are involved in causing hiccups. Hiccups is a vicious cycle between  Phrenic nerve which contracts Diaphragm and Vagus nerve which contracts the Glottis and Epiglottis. Using FISST, requires intense activity of these two nerves and muscles for a few seconds, and thus it distracts the two nerve and muscles from the vicious cycle of triggers. We think because the FISST use the science behind all other remedies, but in union and under a pre-calculated required pressure and enough  intensity, that can stops hiccups. All other home remedies work only on one of the mentioned 2 nerves or they cannot “Naturally “ generate the required enough intensity to stop the vicious cycle between the 2 nerves. 

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? Is the device expensive?  Easy to use?

Response: We had more than 90% performance in more than 600 users, the users reported that it is feasible and reproducible and easy to use. The price is $14 and is durable and affordable and they can re-use it as many time that they want.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: The main etiology of hiccups is not known, however in some people ,certain things trigger hiccups, such as spicy foods, drinking alcohol  or eating fast as well as Cancer Chemotherapy medications.  We suggest they try to avoid the triggers if possible, however if they are suffering from hiccups and it is annoying and disturbing to them, and if the home remedies did not work for them so far, try the FISST , which is now available to public as HiccAway  ( at AMAZON and HICCAWY.com)

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: We plan to do a randomized clinical trial on the subjects who suffer from hiccups to improve the performance of FISST and compare it with Placebo. It helps us to understand better the detail mechanism of FISST performance in stopping hiccups.  We will be happy if people volunteer to participate in a randomized clinical trial with us. 

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: I would like to encourage the people specially young healthcare to always think outside of the box, follow their dreams and never stop thinking even if there has been no treatment for such a simple thing but annoying as Hiccups.

I suggest people be detail and think about how simple remedies work on our body and try to improve the remedies, as I did and I used the previous remedies and made them more efficient with a simple tool. 

Citation:

Alvarez J, Anderson JM, Snyder PL, et al. Evaluation of the Forced Inspiratory Suction and Swallow Tool to Stop Hiccups. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(6):e2113933. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.13933

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Last Updated on June 18, 2021 by Marie Benz MD FAAD