11/05/2022
https://www.facebook.com/112697762139045/posts/7471098822965532/
Vagus Nerve 101
Your vagus nerve, also called the “wandering nerve,” is the longest nerve in your body...
It begins at the bottom of your brain stem and travels through your body, touching every major organ, and stopping at your abdomen...
Simply put—it’s the pathway between your brain and your body...
Your vagus nerve is a lot like a thermostat… It automatically kicks on to keep everything in perfect balance. And research has shown that the vagus nerve is vital to many of the crucial, yet delicate, processes in the body, including:
•Blood sugar
•Blood pressure
•Inflammation
•Free radicals
•Oxygen levels in your blood
•Stress- and calm-inducing chemicals
Think of your vagus nerve as your body’s neurochemical “superhighway”—carrying signals between the brain and your vital organs...
One of the most important of these signals determines whether your body goes on high alert or remains calm...
When you’re stressed or frightened, the vagus nerve signals for your sympathetic nervous system to rev into high gear. Think of it as the gas pedal in a car...
This part of your nervous systems heightens your awareness and prepares your body to go into “fight or flight” mode and chemicals like adrenaline course through your body...
When your body is calm, your parasympathetic (or “rest and digest”) system is dominant...
Think of it as the brake pedal on a car. Achieving this state is ideal as it reduces stress, regulates your blood pressure, and slows your heart rate. It also helps the body focus on healing...
Here's a diagram that shows the vagus nerve's path through the body...
