Classically, stimulation of the vagus nerve with relatively high voltages (10–25 V) results in direct bronchoconstriction due to the release of acetylcholine from efferent parasympathetic nerves traveling in the cervical vagus nerve to the lung (5,6,12,13).

Their nerve endings, the so-called cough receptors, which are located everywhere in the epithelium of the respiratory tract, throat, larynx, trachea and bronchi, are activated by mechanical and chemical stimuli as well as by released inflammatory mediators (bradykinin and prostaglandins).

One of the key players in lung health is the vagus nerve. When the lung expands during normal shallow breathing, that stimulates the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve then sends a message to the brain to constrict the bronchi, making breathing more difficult.

Breathe out and your heart rate slows. This variability is one of many things regulated by the vagal nerve, which is active when you breathe out but suppressed when you breathe in, so the bigger your difference in heart rate when breathing in and out, the higher your vagal tone.

Vagus nerve stimulation involves the use of a device to stimulate the vagus nerve with electrical impulses. An implantable vagus nerve stimulator is currently FDA-approved to treat epilepsy and depression.

You can enjoy the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation naturally by following these steps.

1. Cold Exposure.
2. Deep and Slow Breathing.
3. Singing, Humming, Chanting and Gargling.
4. Probiotics.
5. Meditation.
6. Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
7. Exercise.
8. Massage.

The vagus nerve helps control several muscles of the throat and of the voicebox. It plays a major role in regulating the heart rate and keeping the gastrointestinal tract in working order. The vagus nerves also carry sensory information from the internal organs back to the brain.

The vagus nerve is responsible for lots of stuff in our bodies. If it works well, it helps us relax. If it doesn’t, we can get a rapid heart rate, anxiety, depression, and a host of other issues. This nerve is also likely responsible for many of the symptoms that neck pain and CCI instability patients suffer.

Lucky for us, there’s no need for surgery. Vagal tone can be improved naturally through stimulation with techniques that can be done at home. Working to strengthen your vagal tone will help with mood, digestion, and overall well being.

How vagal nerve stimulation affects sleep and wakefulness. Vagal nerve stimulation has a variety of effects on sleep and wakefulness, which include: improved daytime alertness and sleep architectural changes, decreased REM sleep and increased awakenings, wake after sleep onset, and stage NREM 1 sleep.

It is when swallowing induces loss of consciousness. The swallowing triggers a vagal [nerve] reflex from the esophagus to the brain and back to the heart [that] is excessive in its reflex strength.

The parasympathetic side, which the vagus nerve is heavily involved in, decreases alertness, blood pressure, and heart rate, and helps with calmness, relaxation, and digestion. As a result, the vagus nerve also helps with defecation, urination, and sexual arousal.

Once the vagus nerve is cut, it can’t be restored — a potential drawback, because the reduced appetite and slowed digestion may no longer be required or even desirable once a patient attains a healthy body weight.

Vagotomy is a surgical procedure to sever part of the nerve that controls digestion. The aim is to reduce stomach acid. The vagus nerve is responsible for sensory and motor functions of the internal organs such as heart, lungs and the gastrointestinal system.

Although the mechanisms are poorly understood, vagal nerve stimulation prevents weight gain in response to a high‐fat diet. In small clinical studies, in patients with depression or epilepsy, vagal nerve stimulation has been demonstrated to promote weight loss.

We demonstrated that caffeine intake enhances autonomic nerve activities. Although a significant effect of caffeine on the increase in the LC or SNS activity was not observed, modulation of the vagal tone was markedly enhanced 20–30 min after consumption of the caffeine-containing beverages.