Vagal Nerve Health
This may not be a common topic most people know about, but it is one of the most important areas to notice and pay attention to. The Vagus nerve helps manage many involuntary functions in our bodies such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, and signals to your brain.
When there is Vagal Nerve damage, many symptoms can be present that often get misdiagnosed as other conditions. Symptoms such as a blood pressure drop that can cause you to feel faint or dizzy, can also be an issue with the vagal nerve health. Other symptoms can include: Hoarseness, wheezing, loss of voice, difficulty in swallowing or loss of gag reflex, acid reflux, GERD, IBS, IBD, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s, migraines, cluster headaches, anxiety and PTSD.
The Vagus Nerve is a two-way information highway between the brain and the gut biome. It transmits a complex array of messages between the brain, the digestive system, and organs.
Most of us try to have a healthy diet, destress our lives, and be as active as we can. If after looking at all three of those areas, and you are still experiencing unknown symptoms, vagal tone could be the culprit. Keep in mind that stress, trauma, sickness, infection, surgeries, and medications may also suppress the Vagus Nerve.
Vagal nerve function is not measured directly, but the next best method so far, seems to be HRV (Heart Rate Variability test). A higher HRV means better vagal nerve action, and better overall health and longevity. A lower HRV is linked to anxiety, depression, and a lower state of overall health.
The good news is that there are many ways that you can help yourself increase your vagal tone. First and foremost is a healthy diet and using exercise to optimize vagal tone. When we stop exercising, all kinds of “areas” start to lose tone, including the Vagal nerve! Besides those, you can also try: Massage, Deep Breathing exercise, singing, humming or chanting, meditation, and music therapy all help stimulate the Vagus Nerve.
Inflammation is a killer, but first it makes our body quite unhappy. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet (Mediterranean Diet) can help keep inflammation at bay. A diet high in healthy fish oils, red wine, and lots of greens and fermented foods helps the brain, the heart, the gut biome, and the vagal nerve just as much. So, with all these tips for optimal health, happy humming, happy singing, and happy exercising, for a happy Vagal Nerve!