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Jul 30, 2019 · The good news: Their research suggests that stimulating the vagus nerve using a tVNS electrical device attached to the tragus region of the outer ear helps to rebalance the autonomic nervous...
- Overview
- What is the vagus nerve?
- How it works
- Benefits of vagus nerve stimulation
- Risks and side effects
- Summary
VNS is the process of electrically stimulating the vagus nerve via a surgically implanted device. It is generally safe, but may cause temporary side effects, such as hoarseness, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) involves a device, known as a pulse generator, that delivers electrical pulses to a person’s vagus nerve. This may help treat several conditions, including epilepsy, depression, and gastrointestinal diseases.
The vagus nerve is a long cranial nerve that runs from a person’s brain stem into their neck, chest, and abdomen.
The nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is commonly referred to as the rest-and-digest system because it regulates bodily functions while a person is at rest. It delivers messages to a person’s brain from their digestive system and organs such as their lungs, heart, and liver.
The vagus nerve controls several organ functions, including digestion, heart rate, and respiratory rate. It is responsible for vasomotor activity and reflexes such as:
•coughing
•sneezing
•swallowing
VNS involves a pulse generator inserted under a person’s skin on their chest. The implantable device, which is similar to a pacemaker, delivers regular electrical pulses to their brain via the vagus nerve. For example, a device may be programmed to stimulate for 30 seconds every 5 minutes.
It is possible to provide additional stimulation by placing the provided magnet over the pulse generator.
Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga, and medication can influence vagus nerve activity, increasing its ability to relieve anxiety and mood-related symptoms.
Ways to naturally stimulate the vagus nerve include:
•singing
•loudly gargling with water
Epilepsy
VNS commonly treats neurological conditions such as epilepsy, often in conjunction with anti-epileptic drugs. VNS may minimize atypical electrical brain activity leading to seizures. This may reduce the frequency, severity, and length of a person’s seizures. However, the treatment may take up to 2 years to work. For people with epilepsy, VNS may also help improve post-seizure recovery, improve overall well-being, and boost mood, alertness, and cognition.
Mental health
VNS has a positive effect on a person’s mental health and may treat chronic treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The vagus nerve may influence somatic and cognitive symptoms of conditions associated with stress. Stimulation may regulate people’s emotions, helping them feel calm, clear, and compassionate.
Reducing blood pressure, lowering heart rate, and boosting immunity
VNS may help boost a person’s immunity, lower their heart rate, and reduce their blood pressure. It also reduces inflammation, making it an effective therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. VNS also helps treat inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, including: •inflammatory bowel disease •Crohn’s disease •ulcerative colitis
In general, VNS is safe for most people. However, there are potential risks and side effects to consider. Normally, the most common side effects are temporary and include hoarseness, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Implantation surgery involves risks and complications such as pain, infection, and breathing difficulties. It can also cause vocal cord paralysis and injury to a person’s vagus nerve and surrounding nerves.
Possible risks and side effects of VNS include:
•general pain
•ear, throat, or chest pain
•tingling in the throat or neck
The vagus nerve influences several bodily functions, including digestion, heart rate, and body temperature.
VNS uses an implantable device to deliver regular electrical pulses from a person’s vagus nerve to their brain.
Mar 10, 2022 · Your vagus nerve is connected to your vocal cords, the muscles at the back of your throat and passes through your inner ear. Try humming or singing or just listening to calm, soothing music.
Oct 9, 2024 · Auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) could be an effective non-drug therapy in the multimodal treatment of chronic and acute pain. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of aVNS in treating chronic and acute pain conditions.
Apr 18, 2023 · This device stimulates the vagus nerve when it's held against the skin of the neck. The stimulation blocks pain signals to prevent or relieve head pain. Researchers are studying vagus nerve stimulation as a potential treatment for a variety of other conditions.
Apr 1, 2023 · Auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) delivered percutaneously or transcutaneously offers a method to modulate neural activity on the vagus nerve with the potential for a more favorable safety profile.
People also ask
Can auricular vagus nerve stimulation treat chronic and acute pain?
Can vagus nerve stimulation help relieve head pain?
What is auricular vagus nerve stimulation?
What is vagus nerve stimulation?
Can a vagus nerve stimulator be implanted?
What are the side effects of vagus nerve stimulation?
Jul 23, 2019 · Electrical stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve (aVNS) is an emerging electroceutical technology in the field of bioelectronic medicine with applications in therapy.
