# What would be the effects if a person were suspended upside down indefinitely. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225 "2011-04-21T13:43:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/1 "2011-04-21T13:43:38Z")
So you rejected the person who then thinks “You turned me upside down figuratively, so I’m going to turn you upside down literally.” They kidnap you and suspend you upside down in chains, with a food tube in your stomach and other tubes to carry away your wastes. What would be the long term effcts. Woiuld you eventually die? How long could you live like that? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/2 "2011-04-21T13:52:45Z")
There are a billion Chinese on the opposite side of the planet. Even without feeding or waste tubes they seem to be doing okay. (Sorry there’s not much science behind that, but I thought it was a great question.) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/3 "2011-04-21T13:58:39Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > There are a billion Chinese on the opposite side of the planet. Even without feeding or waste tubes they seem to be doing okay. Don’t be silly. The Chinese are sideways. It’s the Australians that are upside down. Apparently, when David Blaine was doing this stunt, rent-a-quote doctors suggested it could lead to [increased blood pressure in the brain and eyes](http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5844197&page=1), which could lead to stroke or vision problems due to ruptured capillaries. Breathing would also be more difficult thanks to the weight of intestines on the diaphragm. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/4 "2011-04-21T14:15:26Z")
Yep, breathing difficulties leading to pneumonia from infected, collapsed alveoli, followed by increased intracranial pressure, are going to be your worst concerns, I think. The pneumonia will probably be what kills you, but there is the chance you’ll get a brain bleed first. If it were I, I’d pray for the brain bleed, the same way I’d pray for flames over smoke if I’m ever burned alive. It’ll hurt a lot (a subarachnoid hemhorrage is often described as “the worst headache of my life”) but it’ll be over quicker. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/5 "2011-04-21T14:15:40Z")
If this were a child, the physical appearance would change over a prolonged time (years). Gravity has a distinct impact upon how our facial features develop. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/6 "2011-04-21T14:22:16Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > If this were a child, the physical appearance would change over a prolonged time (years). Gravity has a distinct impact upon how our facial features develop. [Like this.](http://images.wikia.com/familyguy/images/b/ba/JakeTucker.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/7 "2011-04-21T14:29:19Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Yep, breathing difficulties leading to pneumonia from infected, collapsed alveoli, followed by increased intracranial pressure, are going to be your worst concerns, I think. The pneumonia will probably be what kills you, but there is the chance you’ll get a brain bleed first. If it were I, I’d pray for the brain bleed, the same way I’d pray for flames over smoke if I’m ever burned alive. It’ll hurt a lot (a subarachnoid hemhorrage is often described as “the worst headache of my life”) but it’ll be over quicker. Why would a brain bleed be painful? I thought that we don’t have nerve endings there - at least, not the sort that register pain. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/8 "2011-04-21T14:38:59Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Why would a brain bleed be painful? I thought that we don’t have nerve endings there - at least, not the sort that register pain. Not directly, but as I understand it, the pressure of the blood pooling causes the brain to squish up against the bone of the cranium, and that’s painful. Although why a subarachnoid hemorrhage hurts more than an epidural or intracerebral one, I can’t tell you. But that precise phrase: “worst headache of my life” is the one they teach us to be on the lookout for, specifically, a subarachnoid bleed. The other kinds of bleeds may cause a headache, but not the worst one of your life, apparently. (It also tends to be the last one of your life; prognosis with a subarachnoid bleed is very poor.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/9 "2011-04-21T14:43:52Z")
Thanks, **WhyNot**! ---
**Author:** ![ovalseven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@ovalseven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ovalseven)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/10 "2011-04-21T20:27:52Z")
This was covered in an episode of “1000 Ways to Die”. > **[Paramount Network](https://www.paramountnetwork.com/)** > > Television's destination for premium entertainment and storytelling, with original scripted and non-scripted series. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/11 "2011-04-22T02:22:24Z")
Confucius wrote about this once. According to him, you go insane. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/12 "2011-04-22T19:21:22Z")
One of the positions used by Romans in crucifixion was to put the person upside down. Apparently this led to earlier death than the head up position…the crucified person often died due to breathing difficulties. Human abdominal organs are better suspended to conform with the upright stance, and tend to push upward on the diaphragm, thus inhibiting breathing. Lots of folks who have breathing difficulties sleep in a semi=upright position because of this. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/13 "2011-04-22T19:33:20Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > .. with a food tube in your stomach and other tubes to carry away your wastes. You don’t need the food tube. You can eat and drink upside down: I once tried it, and it’s not comfortable, but your throat can push the food and drink up to your stomach. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/14 "2011-04-22T19:44:47Z")
At least it’s not “Need answer fast!” \*YOU’VE had a hard time! Listen, sonny! I’ve been here five years and they only hung me the right way up yesterday! \* ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/15 "2011-04-22T20:01:42Z")
> [@sunstone](#): > > One of the positions used by Romans in crucifixion was to put the person upside down. Apparently this led to earlier death than the head up position…the crucified person often died due to breathing difficulties. I thought most crucifixions caused death by suffocation. Wasn’t that the point of breaking people’s legs–so they couldn’t support themselves to breathe? > [@Giles](#): > > You don’t need the food tube. You can eat and drink upside down Yup, peristalsis. Which, for the record, chickens don’t have. A chicken kept upside-down (or in zero gravity/freefall) and fed normally will starve to death. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/16 "2011-04-22T20:42:16Z")
Wouldn’t there be some “benefits?” For instance, you would get taller and your spine would decompress thus releasing any pinched nerve afflictions. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/17 "2011-04-22T23:17:45Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > If this were a child, the physical appearance would change over a prolonged time (years). Gravity has a distinct impact upon how our facial features develop. While this has all the feel of a reasonable statement, there’s really no way of knowing how or even if this is true. In the absence of anyone who has developed in the absence of gravity, it’s pretty much just a guess as to the degree and the nature of the truth of this assertion. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/18 "2011-04-23T00:31:23Z")
> [@ovalseven](#): > > This was covered in an episode of “1000 Ways to Die”. > > [Paramount Network | Homepage - Shows & Schedules](http://www.spike.com/video-clips/4t3np7/1000-ways-to-die-car-jacked) On the other hand [Tanya Rider](http://abcnews.go.com/US/tanya-rider-trapped-days-car-writes-book/story?id=12682635) survived being trapped suspended upside down by her selt belt for eight days. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-effects-if-a-person-were-suspended-upside-down-indefinitely/579225/19 "2011-04-23T00:51:03Z")
> [@CC](#): > > While this has all the feel of a reasonable statement, there’s really no way of knowing how or even if this is true. In the absence of anyone who has developed in the absence of gravity, it’s pretty much just a guess as to the degree and the nature of the truth of this assertion. Assuming what **WhyNot** said to be accurate (and why not?) the child would die before gravity could mold facial features all that much.