Vagus Nerve Damage You'll notice issues with your voice, problems with your throat, an increased heart rate, brain fog, excessively high or low blood pressure, and gut problems.
You know that not only will a pinched or irritated vagus nerve result in neck pain, but it can also lead to myriad issues throughout our body and mind - including increased anxiety, depression, headaches & migraines, poor digestive & immune system function, increased heart rate, and more.
The most common symptoms of vagus nerve dysfunction include chronic pain, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, spinning or pulling sensation (in a particular direction), weight loss, poor focusing, exercise intolerance, emotional lability, inflammation, heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, tinnitus, headache, anxiety, ...
There are two main causes of vagus nerve dysfunction: previous infection or inflammation and physical or psychological stress.
Considering the course of the vagal nerve in the cervical region, it is thought that conditions such as stiffness, tightness and decreased elasticity in this region may compress the vagal nerve andmay affect vagal function.
At UCSF Health, our neurologists and neurosurgeons have expertise in implanting vagal nerve stimulators to treat seizures caused by diseases such as epilepsy.
Chiropractors help vagus nerve health by realigning the spine and correcting misalignments.
A: These patients experienced a very common reaction known as vasovagal syncope. When the vagus nerve is overstimulated, the body's blood vessels dilate, especially those in the lower extremities, and the heart temporarily slows down. The brain is deprived of oxygen, causing the patient to lose consciousness.
However, chronic stress can impact the vagus nerve in a negative way. 2 This can lead to problems such as anxiety and depression. It can also make the body more susceptible to infections and diseases. 3 Therefore, it is important to manage stress in order to maintain a healthy vagus nerve.
Vagus nerve stimulation usually starts at a low level. It's gradually increased depending on your symptoms and side effects. Stimulation is programmed to turn on and off in cycles — such as 30 seconds on, five minutes off. You may have some tingling sensations or slight pain in your neck.
Distal vagal lesions occur as an isolated paralysis of the vagus nerve with no symptoms or signs referable to the oropharynx. Either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging can be used to diagnose proximal or distal lesions.
Several pressure points are shown to help stimulate the vagus nerve when massaged. These include the stomach, ear, neck, and feet. This can be achieved by applying light to moderate pressure in certain areas to stimulate and activate a parasympathetic nervous response.
Often, this response is triggered by certain things like stress, pain, and fear. Symptoms of the vagal response include dizziness, nausea, ringing ears, and sweating. In some cases, it can make you pass out.
Any kind of GI distress can put pressure on the Vagus nerve and irritate it resulting in further problems. An excess of alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine can inflame the nerve. As we now know, our gut is considered to be our “second brain”, also known as our enteric nervous system.
The most important function of the vagus nerve is afferent, bringing information of the inner organs, such as gut, liver, heart, and lungs to the brain. This suggests that the inner organs are major sources of sensory information to the brain.
Your vagus nerve helps disengage your sympathetic nervous system — your fight-or-flight response. “When you're stressed or scared, your heart rate and blood pressure increase, and you become focused on survival,” Dr. Lin explains. “Being in that stressful 'fight-or-flight' state can wear out your body.
Your vagus nerve runs from your brain down to your abdomen. Because it wanders down your body carrying a range of signals from your brain to your organs (and vice versa), it's known as the “wandering nerve”.
The vagus nerve can become damaged for various reasons, including stomach or oesophagal surgery and type-2 diabetes. Symptoms of damage include hoarseness of voice, a deficient gag reflex and difficulty swallowing. Besides these symptoms, vagal damage can manifest itself through digestive issues.
A vasovagal episode or vasovagal syncope is the most common form of reflex syncope. Reflex syncope describes any form of syncopal episode caused by a failure in the autoregulation of blood pressure, and ultimately, a drop in cerebral perfusion pressure resulting in a transient loss of consciousness.