What Happens in Vagus...

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When I was in my final years of high school, I suffered from fainting episodes nearly every other week, which led to me being hospitalised and the placement of a heart monitor in the left side of my chest. Doctor appointment after doctor appointment eventually resulted in me being diagnosed with vasovagal syncope in 2012.

During this period, I was passed from doctor to doctor to get their perspective and understanding on what the hell was going on. During one particular test, I suffered a cardiac arrest which scared both me and my family into desperately trying to find a treatment. I was prescribed beta blockers and my heart monitor data was frequently checked to gain an insight into how my heart/body was working.

Since this long and difficult period of my life, I have been forced to stop playing rugby (a sport that I was progressing to a high level in) to focus on improving my health. After being diagnosed, I at least had something to research and learn about, helping me to understand my body and what I need to do to make sure it is feeling 100%. I joke now that my heart and I are friends these days, whereas years ago, we were more like ‘frenemies’.

Upon meeting new people through CrossFit and different jobs, I have spoken about my problems (which thankfully I don’t suffer from that much these days) and I have been shocked at the amount of people who have said they experience/suffer from the same symptoms/episodes and they are in the dark just as much as me. I have therefore been motivated to research the vagus nerve and the implications of vasovagal syncope.

The August ’18 edition of Women’s Health featured a three-page article about the vagus nerve and it roles within the body. The vagus nerve is one of the largest nerves in the human body, running from the brain stem, past the ear and down the back of the throat, before branching out into the stomach. It plays a vital role in passing messages between the organs and the brain. As Victoria Woodhall would call it, it is ‘the broadband cable connecting the body and mind’. It is also vital in providing a stress-regulating effect, as the electrical stimulation of the vagus slows the heart rate. It triggers the release of a substance called acetylcholine which stimulates muscle activation and sleep.

If a vagus isn’t functioning correctly, it has what is known as a ‘low tone’ which results in it having little or no ability to calm the stress response caused by pain, the sight of blood, sudden fright or being motionless for a prolonged period of time.  

With this low tone, the nerve is unable to cope with stress, resulting in the temporary loss of consciousness. The vasovagal reflex produces either the sudden dilation of the blood in the legs or the slowing of the heart rate, causing blood pressure to drop and fainting to occur.

Consciousness is usually gained within seconds but leaves me experiencing what is referred to as a postdromal period in which I experience extreme fatigue, loss of appetite and dizziness up to 12 hours afterwards.

After experiencing episodes like this nearly every week when I was younger, I now consider myself an expert on understanding the warning signs, which include the following:

• Lightheadedness
• Buzzing in ears
• Tunnel/shimmering/blurry vision
• Nausea

However, sometimes you can experience atypical periods in which an episode will occur without any identifiable triggers, making it harder for doctors to find a true diagnosis.

Luckily, these days I am more aware of the symptoms and have a better and wider understanding of the recommended methods in prohibiting fainting. Staying hydrated, eating well and doing yoga have all been proven as effective treatment for vasovagal syncope as they all inherit means to tone your vagus. Ultimately, what is most important is knowing when you’re not OK. I know now that if I’m not feeling 100%, I need to give myself a rest. Especially with exercise. Understanding and listening to what my body is saying to me has helped to decrease the frequency of my episodes.

Yet, it has also been proven that you don’t have to be suffering from a condition to consider vagal toning. Vagal toning has been proven to reduce stress and gut problems which people may experience on a daily basis. The vagus nerve is a vital part of your body which shouldn’t be forgotten about. Thankfully, due to increased awareness of mental health and the damaging effects of chronic stress, we’ll hopefully be seeing a lot more of this little buggar.

Finally, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of going to see your GP if you are experiencing any of the above. Even if you are struggling with conditions such as IBS, migraines or episodes of dizziness, it is important to go and get checked out to understand the underlying reasons.

https://theheartysoul.com/ways-to-stimulate-your-vagus-nerve/

Sources:

Women's Health Magazine, August 2018 edition, pages 60-62

VeryWellHealth, www.verywellhealth.com/vasovagal-cardioneurogenic-syncope-176389