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Let’s face it, we virtually know nothing about our bodies. I mean, we breathe, and sleep, and eat, and put it on repeat. But apparently, there’s some everyday magic we can do with our physique that we didn’t have a clue existed. Pull your seat closer.

You know how you're sitting in a movie theatre and out of nowhere, your nose is about to blast off like Elon Musk's SpaceX? There’s a trick for this. Or hiccups. There’s a simple hack to treat those little devils too. Because we can only take a limited amount of hiccups at a time, and every extra one is a threat to human dignity.

So scroll down below to pack yourself with some useful tips and tricks that may save your date, shield you from embarrassment, and simply make it pass.

#1

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Instead of treading water and tiring yourself out float on your back by arching your spine and pushing your hips up toward the sky. Spread your limbs out and use small movements with your arms to stabilize. Contemplate life.

crdog , Leandro Riviello Report

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B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is really important and could save your life. Tested and it works, even for people who can't swim. Just hope for calm seas.

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#2

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies When you do pullups, try to imagine yourself pulling your elbows down, not pulling your body up. It's a mental trick that can make them feel easier, because it forces you to use the muscles in your back more.

FloralBison , Eric Astrauskas Report

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hispanic! at the disco
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although you're still going to be scammed in those "stay on the bar for two minutes and win 100 dollars!!" games

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#3

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Feeling depressed or just thoroughly upset? Have a snack containing the following:

--Dark chocolate (to raise endorphins)

--Blueberries (to raise serotonin)

--Green tea+ (which contains L-theanine that blocks stress receptors in your brain)

--Anything rich in B-vitamins like 5-Hour Energy, VitaminWater, or banana chips (as B-vitamins replenish energy that's sapped when you are depressed)

I've used this custom snack pack to great effect in the past, even coming back from being legitimately suicidal. I've had my mood turn around inside of 2 hours with this. I'm on a daily antidepressant now and am doing much better overall, but sometimes I still need this emotional bandaid fix.

+Hot or cold green tea will work, but for added benefit, holding a warm mug of hot tea sends signals to your brain to help your muscles relax, which you may be subconsciously tensing due to stress.

PianoManGidley , AlexanderStein Report

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#4

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Water should be the first thing you put into your body each day.

NateDawg24 , Roger Johnson Report

#5

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Make pooping easier by elevating your knees and feet, so you're in a squatting position.

Squatty Potty Report

#6

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Squeezing your left thumb into your palm can help cut off your gag reflex.

Thought it was [bullcrap]. Tried it. Can brush my tongue nicely now

MaxwellSavageYork , jidesu Report

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Elsker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

isn't this just a way of diverting your brains from gagging? still, if it works:)

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#7

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies When you are hot pour cold water over your wrists to cool your body off. The reason this remedy works is because your wrist and neck both contain pulse points, areas where you can feel your pulse because your blood vessels are close to the surface of your skin.

mojaksywa , star athena Report

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Dynein
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Be careful to not use water that's too cold... your vessels contract quickly if it's too cold so you won't actually cool off that well. Best to use lukewarm water that your body doesn't register as *cold*... just less hot than your body. (Same goes for every other method of using liquids to cool off - lukewarm/slightly cold works better!). By the same token, wrapping your *wrists* (and neck) warm in winter can retain a lot of heat.

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#8

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you need to get up in the middle of the night keep one eye closed so that when you flip on the lights it stays attuned to night vision. That way you can still see in the dark with the other eye when you're done.

Davidglo , Alexander Krivitskiy Report

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#9

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you're worried you're gonna throw up, you're mouth usually fills with saliva a bit beforehand because the contents of your stomach are harmful to the throat. It's a pretty good sign you're gonna toss them cookies.

myrtlemurrs , Trần Toàn Report

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No you didn't
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see, "easy body tricks that may come in handy" means reflexes. Yes, those may come in handy. Thank you.

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#10

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you have a stuffed up nostril, lay on your side which is opposite to the nostril (e.g. If the left nostril is plugged, lay on your right side). Try tilting your head different ways and just lay there. Once you find the right head orientation, the pressure will relieve itself. It's orgasmic.

bigolmonkeyfarm , PublicDomainPictures Report

#11

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Tiptoe (toe-heel walk) every time you aren't wearing shoes, improves balance and +1 stealth. Also good way to workout those calves.

crdog , Alexis Report

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Martha Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't wear shoes when I'm home. That would be very weird to do all the time.

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#12

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Lie on your left side to help prevent bedtime heartburn after you eat a big meal

DieterRobbins Report

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Scott
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your stomach is on the left side. Laying on this side stops the acid flowing back to the aesophagus thus reducing heartburn.

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#13

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you get some form of exercise every day, your mind and body will feel better. Lifting 3-4 times a week and biking to work/school every day has completely changed who I am over the course of a year and a half. Don't give up on yourself.

CoupleScrewsLoose , Jonathan Borba Report

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Martha Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People really underestimate how important this is for mental well being. Humans are made for walking about 20 km a day actually and not exercising at all is like keeping a bird in a cage all the time.

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#14

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you are experiencing a panic attack or you are anxious enough to elevate your heart rate, you can hold a cold water bottle to your face between your nose and cheekbone and hold your breath for 30 seconds to have your body relax itself.

LanarLikker , Fernando @cferdo Report

#15

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you feel a sneeze coming but it fails to emerge (super frustrating), look at a bright light and it'll come. Works for me almost every time.

Raisinization , Pexels Report

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ThreeOfAKind
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually only 18-35% of people can induce sneezing by looking at light. It's still really useful to those that can though!

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#16

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Rolling around and stretching on the floor for 5-10 minutes helps to relieve a huge amount of body aches/soreness for me. It really relaxes your body and loosens it up.

Sumit316 , Adam McGuffie Report

#17

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you're writing a test and are having trouble thinking/remembering an answer, adjust your position - somehow this helps you think differently

im_paul_n_thats_all , tjevans Report

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Karen Johnston
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also works with crying babies. If you're holding one on the left shoulder, and you move him or her to the right, sometimes it soothes them. My theory is their clothing is rubbing on them somewhere that is making them uncomfortable. I also found with a really cranky baby, change their clothes and that can help.

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#18

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies When you get a brain freeze, press and hold your tongue up to the roof of your mouth.

congerdesign Report

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#19

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies More a gltich than a hack, but if you position yourself in the door frame (or something similar) with your arms hanging down and push both your arms against the frame with all your force and keep doing that for about 30 seconds and step away while completely relaxing your arms your arms will raise themselves upwards while you are relaxing your arms.

Adolf-____-Hitler , Salim Virji Report

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Daenarys
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I show this to my 6th grade students during our body systems unit in biology every year. They think it's hilarious.

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#20

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you have somewhat of a double chin or you want your jawline to be more defined in a picture, put your tongue on the roof of your mouth.

crdog , Mike Oliva Report

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Monday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth when you smile for a picture also keeps your eyes open wider

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#21

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Drain congested sinuses by alternating between pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth, then pressing a finger between your eyebrows

Brittany Colette Report

#22

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies To quickly cure your hiccups: Deeply inhale, hold it, swallow twice, then exhale through your nose.

RobinHiggins Report

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Wolfowl
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I drink water from the opposite rim of the glass until the hiccups are gone.

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Nerevar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Finally! Nobody believed me when I sad that until I showed them! :-D

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Tor Rolf Strøm
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

nah nah nah. heres how you do it: hold your breath while drinking water upside down while counting to a hundred in your mind while watching a horror movie (for jump scares) while wiggling your toes and raising your eyebrows up and down to the rhythm of the national anthem on a cold day in November with lights switching on and off.

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Gaya Knust
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

10 very small (and consecutive) gulps of water always do the trick for me

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Sasha Haley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The best way to cure hiccups is to hold your breath while drinking a glass of water and while continuing holding your breath, gulp an uneven number of sips of water for a minimum of 11 gulps. It works like a charm!

danjenkins avatar
Cooter McCoughlin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve never had the hiccups before. I’m 37 years old. I have a feeling that one day I’ll get them and they’ll never go away

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Kathy Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, I’ve tried this. I usually hiccup about halfway through, several times, before I give up and try something else. Diversion is better; so the old trying to drink from the other side of the glass or putting sugar under your tongue and concentrating on holding it there while it melts seem to work better. Sometimes simply burping the excess air out does the trick. If they don’t and the hiccups persist, you need to see a doctor because, believe it or not, chronic hiccups can be dangerous.

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Jo Johannsen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I take a deep breath (lungs gotta be full) and hold as long as possible. My guess why this works is you can't hiccup (draw in air) if your lungs are already full, and once you break the rhythm, they stop. Never failed me in sixty years.

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely! For bad hiccups I sometimes hold my breath twice in a row, but it always works. I think it's because it expands the diaphragm, stopping it from spasming.

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Yare Yare
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Noo, i was told to take a deep breath then 7 sips of watee without exhaleing and after u can exhale

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Monty Is Fiennes
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I drink water slowly while holding my breath for as long as I can. The interruption works 9/10.

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Just saying
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hiccuping is caused by your diaphragm, the muscle under your lungs that controls breathing, spasming. So to cure hiccups I do a big belly breath - pushing my belly out as much as I can while breathing in, and hold it as long as possible. Usually sorts it out in a couple of goes.

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Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find that swallowing at the point when a hiccup is coming will do it, but of course, it's hard to time it right.

els_g avatar
Elsker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

or make someone think deep. I always ask people what they had for dinner, or the day before yesterday. often works

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Margaret Lacher
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I squeeze/pinch the little pointy part of your outer ear called the Tragus while holding my breath. Works every time for me.

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Katelyn Gingrich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hold my breath and bend over. Hiccups gone. Only thing that works quickly and everytime

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Katillian Hatfield
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To h only thing that has EVER worked for me or my kids is a tbsp of sugar chased with water to wash it down. Tried and true every single time!..

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Bert van Aalsburg
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I usually do controlled breathing. Two or three slow, full inhalations and exhalations do the trick.

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Lisa Chambers
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lol sometimes mine are so bad, I will hiccup while doing this.

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Valerie Page
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

breathe in and out into a paper bag. The carbon dioxide build up does it

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Craymoss
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I let out all the air in my lungs then quickly inhale as much as I possibly can and hold my breath till I can’t anymore and 99% of the time that cures them. If it doesn’t on the first try, repeat till their gone.

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somnomania
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

a spoonful of white sugar does the trick for me, the action of moving it around in my mouth to get it swallowed interrupts things enough

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Debra Lewis-unsworth
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son has bad hiccups and I read about eating a spoonful of peanut butter. It actually works!

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Suebee70
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not seeing this posted here yet, and a friend told me about it when I suffered a 48-hour bout of hiccups. Couldn't sleep, eat, drink - just constant hiccups - and my muscles were so sore after 48 hours that I thought I'd have to go to the ER to find a way to stop these stupid hiccups. It works for mild or serious cases. Get a teaspoon full of sugar and pour vinegar on it - just enough to make liquid in the spoon. Swallow it down quick. If the hiccups don't stop the first time, they will on the second try. There's something about the sudden blast of sour/sweet that short-circuits the spasm in the diaphragm that's causing the hiccups, and they instantly stop. It's not really pleasant, but not terrible, and definitely works. You can use white or apple cider vinegar - I always use Bragg's Apple Cider vinegar.

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Nicky OldfieldDesciple
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also if you push your tongue against the opening of your throat and breathe in and out very slowly and deeply about 10 times it will cure your hiccups. Works every time for me.

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Lou Lopez
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you can do it without gagging, touch your soft palate. I learned this in choir because I played tuba in band and get crazy strong hiccups from the diaphragm strength. My teacher was tired of listening to me "calling dinosaurs."

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Gin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or you could just stick your tongue out - this stretches the muscles that are contacting to hiccup.

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Gabby M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Water upside down .... if that fails Bitters and lemon <NEVER fails me.

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Kaspar Kristiansen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This trick apparently isn't very well known, but I've "helped" both children and adults with telling them. Might not work the first time, but the third time at the latest.

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Angell Harding
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I only get hiccups when I have gas in my stomach. Burping seems to cure it for me.

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Kate Tora
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Be careful while doing this, swallowing multiple times when inhaling/exhaling may cause you to hyperventilate

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Dl B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was told to me by a doctor and is the only thing that works for me. Take a q-tip or similar object and tickle the back of your mouth until you gag. Sometimes you have to do it two or three times but it always works. The sudden contraction of your diaphragm when you start gag heavily counteracts the hiccup and it stops.

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#23

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies To hear someone talking next to you in a loud room, lightly pull back on the little flaps on both your ears — then push them in.

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#24

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies If you're wearing wet swim trunks, wrap a towel tightly around your waist, and pull it tight around your knees as well, so that your knees are touching each other. Now squat as low as you can, you should feel the towel constrict even tighter. Your swim trunks should now be totally dry, and you can go straight inside and sit on the couch without getting yelled at by mom for leaving a big wet mark.

saunter-o-dimm , .Martin. Report

#25

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies To calm down when you're feeling extremely nervous, put your thumb in your mouth, close your lips, and try to blow out air, letting your cheeks puff up.

JESHOOTS-com Report

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Wubbleyew
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The final step is to look at yourself in the mirror while doing this. You'll look so ridiculous you won't be able to not laugh at yourself

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#26

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies When you accidentally burn your tongue on hot coffee or tea, swish with very cold water (but don't suck on ice)

Hayes Potter Report

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Marcus Fleming
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good advice. But 'accidentally'? Do some people burn their tongue on purpose? Am I missing out on something?

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#27

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies To ensure you never miss contact in a high-five, watch the other person's elbow.

ghostoftheuniverse , Tyler Nix Report

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Marcus Fleming
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This could go wildly wrong. I recommend holding your hand hi and still. Let the hi-fiver to the swing. Take five.

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#28

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Guys: when shaving over your Adam's apple, swallow as you swipe down to avoid getting nicked.

crdog , Supply Report

#29

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Stop a sneeze in its tracks by pressing down on the area right above your upper lip.

Mojpe Report

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a good trick, but in general, we sneeze with a purpose. Thus, if there is no danger of "hitting" anyone, sneezing makes sense!

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#30

30 Cool "Life Hacks" About Our Bodies Stop a nosebleed by leaning your head forward a little, then pinching your nose in a specific spot for five minutes.

Harvard Health Blog , Marco Verch Report

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Wubbleyew
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'a specific spot' well that's like saying to save yourself from a snake bite, eat a certain leaf.

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