It also explores the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation and where the procedure may prove useful.
What Is the Vagus Nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest nerve of theautonomic nervous systemwhich controls involuntary body functions.
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The two parts are often thought of as being opposites of each other.
The vagus nerve is the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Anatomy
The vagus nerve is one of 12cranial nerves.
The vagus nerve is the longest and most complex of the cranial nerves.
Among the conditions associated with vagopathy are:
Heart Rate Issues
Cardiac arrhythmiais an irregular heartbeat.
Gastroparesis can also worsenacid reflux, which happens when stomach acids backflow into theesophagus(feeding tube).
This includes a chronic form of acid reflux known asgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Other symptoms include ringing in the ears, tunnel vision, and nausea.
Dysphagia
Dysphagiais difficulty swallowing foods or liquids.
Singultus
Singultusis another name forhiccups.
One simple but effective way to test the vagus nerve is by checking thegag reflex.
This involves tickling the back of the throat with a soft cotton swab.
How Effective Is VNS?
Studies have shown that VNS reduces the frequency of epileptic seizures by 51% after one year of therapy.
However, each is known to trigger a positive physiological response that can help relieve stress and improve moods.
Summary
The vagus nerve is the longest and most complex cranial nerve.
It has both motor and sensory fibers that are distributed throughout the body and affects many vital processes.
It also connects the brain to the gastrointestinal tract.
