Hiccups are the worst. You’re sitting in a quiet meeting or trying to enjoy a first date, and suddenly your diaphragm decides to throw a glitchy tantrum. It’s embarrassing. It's annoying. And honestly, most "cures" like drinking water upside down or having someone jump out from behind a door to scare you are basically urban legends that rarely work. That frustration is exactly why the HiccAway, often remembered as the Shark Tank hiccup straw, became such a viral sensation.
It looks like a simple plastic straw. It’s not.
When Dr. Ali Seifi appeared on Shark Tank, he wasn't just another entrepreneur with a "neat idea." He was a neurosurgeon from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He had seen patients suffering from post-operative hiccups that were so severe they couldn't eat or sleep. He wanted a science-based solution, not a folk remedy. The result was a device that looks like a rugged, L-shaped straw with a tiny hole at the bottom and a larger mouthpiece at the top.
The Science Behind the Sip
How does a straw actually stop a spasm? To understand why the HiccAway works, you have to understand the "hiccup reflex arc." A hiccup is a sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm muscle. Simultaneously, your vocal cords snap shut. That’s what creates the "hic" sound.
Dr. Seifi’s invention relies on forced inspiratory suction. Basically, the tiny hole at the bottom of the straw makes it very difficult to pull liquid up. You have to suck with significant effort—about five times the pressure of a normal straw.
This intense suction does two things at once. First, it forces the diaphragm to contract downward to pull the water up. Second, it triggers the epiglottis (the flap in your throat) to close. By engaging both the phrenic nerve and the vagus nerve simultaneously, the device effectively "resets" the brain’s hiccup signal. It's like rebooting a computer when a program freezes.
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Most people think it’s just a gimmick. It isn't. In 2021, a study published in JAMA Network Open looked at 249 volunteers. The results were staggering: over 90% of participants said the HiccAway was more effective than any home remedy they had ever tried.
That Shark Tank Moment
The pitch was classic. Dr. Seifi and his business partner walked into the Tank seeking $250,000 for 15% of their company. The Sharks were skeptical at first. They’ve seen plenty of "medical" gadgets that turned out to be snake oil.
Mark Cuban was the first to see the scalability. He liked the simplicity. He liked the science. But more importantly, he liked that it was a one-time purchase that actually solved a universal human problem. After some back-and-forth, Cuban closed the deal for $250,000 in exchange for a 20% stake.
Since that episode aired, the Shark Tank hiccup straw has exploded in popularity. It moved from a niche medical tool used in hospitals to a household staple found in kitchen junk drawers across the country. It’s a rare example of a product that survived the "Shark Tank Effect" and maintained its reputation because the product actually lived up to the pitch.
Why Some People Still Get It Wrong
There is a lot of confusion online about "Hiccupops" versus "HiccAway." They are not the same thing.
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Hiccupops were lollipops designed to stop hiccups using a specific blend of vinegar and sugar. They also appeared on Shark Tank years prior. They didn't have the same lasting impact. The HiccAway, on the other hand, is a mechanical device. No chemicals. No sugar. Just physics.
Another misconception is that any thick straw will work. Some people try to replicate the effect with a milkshake straw or by pinching a regular straw. It rarely works. The specific pressure required to trigger the vagus nerve is calibrated into the HiccAway's design. If the hole is too big, there’s not enough pressure. If it’s too small, you can’t get the water up at all.
Is It Worth the $14 Price Tag?
Let’s be real. It’s a piece of plastic. Some people balk at paying nearly fifteen dollars for what looks like a reusable straw.
But you aren't paying for the plastic. You’re paying for the neurosurgery expertise that went into the pressure valve design. Think about it this way: if you’re in the middle of a three-hour hiccup fit that’s making your chest sore, would you pay $14 to make it stop in ten seconds? Most people would pay double.
The device is also dishwasher safe and made from BPA-free plastic. It lasts basically forever unless you lose it or the dog chews it. For parents of kids who get frequent hiccups, or for people who get them after drinking carbonated beverages or eating spicy food, it's a massive quality-of-life upgrade.
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Real World Limitations
It’s not a magic wand.
While the 90% success rate is high, it’s not 100%. Some people have "intractable hiccups," which are hiccups that last for more than 48 hours. These are often caused by underlying medical issues like tumors, metabolic problems, or central nervous system disorders. In those cases, a straw—no matter how well-engineered—might not be enough. If you have hiccups that won't go away for days, you need a doctor, not a Shark Tank product.
Also, it takes a bit of practice. You have to keep your lips sealed tight around the mouthpiece. If air leaks in, the pressure drops, and the vagus nerve doesn't get the "reset" signal it needs. You really have to give it a powerful tug.
Practical Steps for Relief
If you've decided to pick up the Shark Tank hiccup straw, or if you're looking for the best way to use the one you already have, follow these steps to ensure it actually works:
- Fill a glass halfway. You don't need a full pint of water. Just about half a cup will do.
- Set the pressure. Most versions of the device have an adjustable cap at the bottom. Start with the "Adult" setting for maximum resistance.
- Deep breath and draw. Take a deep breath, put the straw in your mouth, and suck the water up in one continuous, forceful motion.
- Swallow immediately. The combination of the hard suction and the swallow is what triggers the physical "reset."
- Repeat once if necessary. Usually, one or two sips do the trick. If it hasn't worked by the third sip, take a break and try again in five minutes.
For those who travel or commute, keeping one in the glove box is a smart move. Hiccups while driving are not just annoying; they're a distraction. Having a reliable way to kill them in seconds is worth the small amount of space the device takes up.
The HiccAway stands as one of the few Shark Tank products that successfully bridged the gap between "As Seen on TV" novelty and legitimate medical utility. It turned a neurosurgeon's observation into a tool that anyone can use. It proves that sometimes the most effective solutions to our oldest problems are surprisingly simple, provided the science behind them is rock solid.