Vagus Nerve Dysfunction Treatment in Westminster Denver Colorado
Overview
What is the vagus nerve?
●
There
are 12 cranial nerves in the body. They come in pairs and help link the brain
with other areas of the body, such as the head, neck, and torso.
●
Some
send sensory information, including details about smells, sights, tastes, and
sounds, to the brain. These nerves have sensory functions.
●
Other
cranial nerves control the movement of various muscles and the function of
certain glands. These are known as motor functions.
●
While
some cranial nerves have either sensory or motor functions, others have both.
The vagus nerve is such a nerve. The cranial nerves are classified using Roman
numerals based on their location.
●
The
vagus nerve is also called cranial nerve X.
What does the vagus
nerve affect?
●
The
vagus nerve also called the pneumogastric nerve, is responsible for various
internal organ functions, including:
–
digestion
–
heart
rate
–
breathing
–
cardiovascular
activity
–
reflex
actions, such as coughing, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting
●
It
plays a role in the autonomic nervous system, which controls actions people do
unconsciously, such as breathing and digestion.
●
It
may also form a link between the gut and the brain, playing a role in what
scientists call the gut-brain axis. In recent years, experts have been studying
the gut-brain axis to look for links between conditions such as obesity and
depression.
Vagus
nerve anatomy and function
●
The
word “vagus” means wandering in Latin. This is a very appropriate name, as the
vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve. It runs from the brain stem to part
of the colon.
●
The
vagus nerve sensory functions are divided into two components:
–
Somatic
components. These are sensations felt on the skin or in the muscles.
–
Visceral
components. These are sensations felt in the organs of the body.
Sensory
functions of the vagus nerve include:
●
providing
somatic sensation information for the skin behind the ear, the external part of
the ear canal, and certain parts of the throat
●
supplying
visceral sensation information for the larynx, esophagus, lungs, trachea,
heart, and most of the digestive tract
● playing a small role in the sensation of taste near the root
of the tongue
Motor functions of the vagus nerve include:
●
stimulating
muscles in the pharynx, larynx, and the soft palate, which is the fleshy area
near the back of the roof of the mouth
●
stimulating
muscles in the heart, where it helps to lower resting heart rate
● stimulating involuntary contractions in the digestive tract,
including the esophagus, stomach, and most of the intestines, which allow food
to move through the tract
Vagus nerve testing
●
To
test the vagus nerve, a doctor may check the gag reflex.
●
During this part of the examination, the
doctor may use a soft cotton swab to tickle the back of the throat on both
sides. This should cause the person to gag.
●
If
the person does not gag, this may be due to a problem with the vagus nerve,
which could indicate a problem with the brainstem function.
●
Doctors
may also assess vagal nerve function when looking at cardiovascular disease, as
discussed in recent research. Damage to the vagal nerve can lead to problems
with the cardiovascular system.
●
Measuring
heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiovascular response to exercise can provide
clues as to how your vagal nerve performs in conjunction with your
cardiovascular system, which is known as cardiovagal tone. It can offer clues
to your cardiovascular health.
Nerve damage
Damage
to the vagus nerve can result in a range of symptoms because the nerve is so
long and affects many areas.
Potential
symptom of damage to the vagus nerve include:
●
difficulty
speaking
●
loss
or change of voice
●
difficulty
swallowing
●
loss
of the gag reflex
●
low
blood pressure
●
slow
or fast heart rate
●
changes
in the digestive process
●
Nausea
or vomiting
●
Abdominal
bloating or pain
● depression and anxiety in people with breathing problems or
heart disease
The
symptoms someone might have depend on what part of the nerve is damaged
Heart rate issues
●
Vagal
nerve dysfunction can cause both slow and fast heart rates depending on the
type of dysfunction.
●
For
example, overactivity can lead to bradycardia (or slow heart rate) while
disease causing insufficient activity of the vagus nerve can lead to tachycardia
(fast heart rate).
●
This
can be further explained by management of some types of tachycardia that can
include vagal nerve maneuvers in order to try to stimulate more vagal nerve
activity to slow the heart rate.
Gastroparesis
Experts
believe that damage to the vagus nerve may also cause a condition called
gastroparesis. This condition affects the involuntary contractions of the
digestive system, which prevents the stomach from properly emptying.
Symptoms
of gastroparesis include:
●
nausea
or vomiting, especially vomiting undigested food hours after eating
●
loss
of appetite or feeling full shortly after starting a meal
●
Acid
reflux
●
abdominal
pain or bloating
●
unexplained
weight loss
● fluctuations in blood sugar
Some
people develop gastroparesis after undergoing a vagotomy procedure, which
removes all or part of the vagus nerve.
Vasovagal syncope
The
vagus nerve stimulates certain muscles in the heart that help to slow heart
rate. When it overreacts, it can cause a sudden drop in heart rate and blood
pressure, resulting in fainting. This is known as vasovagal syncope.
Factors
that can trigger this include pregnancy, emotional stress, and pain, but there
may be no clear cause.
Alongside
this type of fainting, you may experience:
●
warmth
●
nausea
●
tunnel
vision
●
ringing
in the ears
●
excessive
sweating
●
low
blood pressure
● slow or irregular heartbeat
If
you experience fainting, it’s a good idea to see a doctor to rule out potential
serious causes. To prevent it, a doctor may recommend drinking plenty of fluids
or avoiding standing up quickly.
Our
expert providers are experienced and skilled at treating vagus nerve
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