vagus nerve

[abynormal]

Dear Brooke,
How can the vagus nerve be stimulated?  Perhaps sports?  I like to golf and was wondering if the finishing twisting move on a golf swing can stimulate this nerve???  I hope so, cause I haven't golfed for a week and my PVC's have dimished significantly.... Please let me know....

Thanks, Abynormal

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Vagal stimulation slows the heart beat, and excessive stimulation can stop it entirely.

Vagal maneuvers are used to try to slow an episode of fast heart rate. These maneuvers stimulate the vagus nerve, sometimes resulting in slowed conduction of electrical impulses through the atrioventricular (AV) node .
Vagal maneuvers that you can try to slow your fast heart rate include:

Gagging.
Holding your breath and bearing down (Valsalva maneuver).
Immersing your face in ice-cold water (diving reflex).
Coughing.
Putting pressure on your eyelids.
It is important to have your health professional show you how to do these procedures correctly.

Glad to hear that your PVC's have diminished :D I posted a reply to cathyw911 (Constant PVC's for over a week) on Dec 2nd about PVC's and a study that was done regarding yoga breathing and it's affects on decreasing PVC's...check this out and see what you think about that.

[Bon-Bon]

By the way, I've wondered quite often, where is the Vagus Nerve located?

Thank you.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

The Vagus nerve, 10th cranial nerve, is the only nerve that starts in the brainstem. From there is travels down the head branching into the Left&Right Vagus, continuing down the neck into the chest and abdomen.

Vagus nerve is responsible for heart rate, contraction of stomach muscles that aid in digestion, sweating and movement of the muscles in your mouth that allow you to speak.

The Left Vagus stimulates the AV Node whereas the Right Vagus stimulates the SA Node.

[crystalhanzelka]

So you are saying that if we cough too much or gag too much our hearts can stop??

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Coughing or gagging may stimulate your vagus nerve. It will not cause your heart to stop. However, if you hyperstimulate (over stimulate) the vagus nerve than yes, you could cause your heart to stop. This is why it is recommended that only trained professionals perform a carotid massage.

Please don't worry about this. :)

[Skippi]

vagus nerve = connected to a lot of parts in our body, hence my theory that - for some of us anyway! - if we have an upset stomach, we get the skipped heart beats. If we are stressed, we skip, if we think too much about our hearts (i.e. get too anxious), we skip. etc etc It would make sense to me, that it's this nervy nerv who causes my problems. And if it's the nerv that causes all these problems, it's also very hard to find a cure, as it is connected to so many things (brain, heart, stomach). So try and "calm" this nerv in any ways possible :)