Call us: 662 097 657 / 931 527 281
Contact us:
Tel. : 662097657 / 931527281
Call us: 662 097 657 / 931 527 281
Imagine that inside your body there's a team of firefighters always on alert, ready to put out any small fire that breaks out. Now, think what would happen if the fire chief, the person in charge of raising the alarm and coordinating the response, were sometimes distracted, didn't receive smoke signals correctly, or didn't have enough "water" to act effectively. Small fires could continue to burn unchecked, right? Something very similar happens in our bodies with inflammation and a silent but incredibly important internal "superhero": the vagus nerve. Intrigued? Read on and discover the fascinating relationship between chronic inflammation and the vagus nerve, and why understanding it can be essential to taking care of your overall health.
You've probably heard of inflammation. We usually associate it with something visible: a swollen ankle after a sprain, redness around a cut... That's acute inflammation, and it's good. But there's another, more subtle type of inflammation: chronic inflammation.
The acute inflammation It's your body's rapid and necessary response to an injury or infection. It's like a firefighter arriving quickly at the scene: immune cells rush to the scene, causing temporary swelling, heat, redness, and pain. Its goal is to eliminate the cause of the problem (bacteria, damaged cells) and begin repair. Once its mission is accomplished, the acute inflammation disappears. It's an indispensable friend!
The Chronic inflamation, on the other hand, is like a fire that never completely goes out. It's a low-grade but persistent inflammatory response that can last for months or even years. The immune system continues to send "alarm" signals and inflammatory cells, but without an acute threat to combat. Over time, this constant inflammatory state can begin to damage the body's own tissues and organs, contributing to a wide variety of health problems. It's the silent enemy.
The causes of this "latent fire" are varied and often combine:
Unlike acute inflammation, chronic inflammation doesn't always present obvious signs. Its manifestations can be subtle and general, such as:
It's important to remember that these symptoms can have many causes, but chronic inflammation is often a common underlying factor.
Now, let's meet the "fire chief" of our analogy: the vagus nerveIts name comes from the Latin "vagus," meaning "wanderer," and it fits perfectly! Because this nerve actually travels throughout our entire body.
It's the tenth of the twelve pairs of cranial nerves and the longest of all. It originates in the brainstem and wanders downward, connecting the brain to almost all the vital organs in the thorax and abdomen: heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, kidneys... It's a veritable information superhighway!
The vagus nerve It is the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system. Think of the autonomic nervous system (which controls automatic functions) as a car with two pedals: the gas pedal (the sympathetic system, the "fight or flight" system) and the brake pedal (the parasympathetic system, the "rest and digest" system). The vagus nerve is responsible for pressing the brakes. When active, it promotes calmness, slows the heart rate, aids digestion, stimulates relaxation... In short, it helps us recover from stress and maintain internal balance (homeostasis). One indicator of good vagus nerve activity is high heart rate variability (HRV), which measures the small fluctuations between heartbeats and reflects the body's ability to adapt.
The vagus nerve It is the most important communication channel between our gut and our brain. It constantly sends information about the state of our digestion, the composition of our gut microbiota, and the presence of potential "problems" (such as inflammation) from the gut to the brain. It also carries orders from the brain to the gut to regulate motility, gastric juice secretion, and intestinal immune function.
This is where the story gets really interesting. Scientists have discovered that the vagus nerve It not only detects inflammation, but also plays an active role in controlling it! This mechanism is known as the "cholinergic inflammatory reflex."
The nerve fibers of the vagus nerve They have receptors capable of detecting the presence of inflammatory molecules (cytokines, such as TNF-alpha) circulating in the body or produced in organs. When it detects these "smoke" signals, it sends an alert to the brain.
Upon receiving the alarm signal, the brain processes the information and, if necessary, uses the vagus nerve, but this time in a downward direction, to send a specific order to certain organs, especially the spleen.
The signals that travel through the vagus nerve toward the spleen stimulate the release of a substance (acetylcholine) that acts on the immune cells (macrophages) present there. This substance tells the macrophages to "slow down," to stop producing so many pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha. It's as if the fire chief gave the order to turn off the main hose once the fire is under control, preventing the water from causing more damage than necessary. This is the incredible natural anti-inflammatory power of vagus nerve.
If our "fire chief" is not in top form, his ability to detect smoke and give the correct orders decreases. This is what is known as "low vagal tone" or low vagal activity. vagus nerve.
When vagal tone is low, the anti-inflammatory inflammatory reflex does not work as efficiently. vagus nerve does not adequately curb the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. As a result, low-grade inflammation can persist and become chronic more easily, as this natural control mechanism is lacking. Low vagal tone is thought to be linked to increased susceptibility to conditions associated with chronic inflammation and the vagus nerve.
Various factors in our lifestyle can negatively influence our body's activity. vagus nerve:
The good news is that we can adopt habits that promote good vagal tone and, therefore, help our body better manage inflammation:
Slow diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing (about 6 breaths per minute) is one of the most direct and effective ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and activate the parasympathetic system. Spend a few minutes a day practicing it.
Brief exposures to cold (ending a shower with cold water, splashing your face with very cold water) can stimulate the vagus nerveStart slowly and listen to your body.
These activities vibrate the vocal cords, which are connected to the vagus nervePlus, they're fun and stress-reducing! Gargling can also have a similar effect.
Regular, non-strenuous physical exercise is associated with improved vagal tone and anti-inflammatory benefits. Walking, swimming, yoga, tai chi—choose what you like.
Cultivating positive social relationships, practicing gratitude and experiencing pleasant emotions also seem to positively influence the vagus nerve.
A diet rich in fiber (fruits, vegetables, legumes), fermented foods (natural yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut) and healthy fats supports a diverse gut microbiota, which is essential for good communication through the gut. vagus nerve.
From a chiropractic perspective, we understand the nervous system as the master system that controls and coordinates all of the body's functions, including the inflammatory response. The spine protects the spinal cord, a crucial part of this communication network.
The chiropractic approach focuses on detecting and correcting potential restrictions or dysfunctions in vertebral mobility and alignment (what we call vertebral subluxations). We believe these dysfunctions can interfere with the normal flow of information through the nervous system.
Although chiropractic does not directly "stimulate" the vagus nerve nor does it directly eliminate inflammation, by working to optimize spinal function, we seek to improve the nervous system's overall ability to communicate effectively. A nervous system that functions without interference may be better equipped to properly regulate all bodily processes, including the natural inflammatory response managed in part by the vagus nerveIt's about supporting the body's innate ability to stay balanced.
The connection between the chronic inflammation and the vagus nerve It's an exciting field of research that reveals the incredible intelligence of the human body. Understanding that we have an internal system designed to control inflammation and that we can influence it through our habits is very powerful.
Take care of your vagus nerve It's about nurturing your natural ability to keep inflammation at bay and promote overall well-being. Adopting a lifestyle that includes good nutrition, stress management, exercise, adequate rest, and ensuring optimal nerve communication are key steps. Start getting to know and supporting this incredible inner "wanderer"!
We encourage you to take care of yourself from now on, without waiting until you feel sick or have various symptoms.
These are some of the answers we hope to answer your questions about chiropractic, for more information visit our FAQ
Yes very sure. The Chiropractic adjustment acts on the nervous system, in order to allow the body's own recovery capacity to function normally.
Millions of people of all ages and with different problems go to the chiropractor, which has negative impacts.
Because? Chiropractic has an excellent safety record, avoiding invasive procedures.
Several studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care is 250 times safer than anti-inflammatories medical treatment.
The goal of chiropractic is to promote better body functionality.
The Central Nervous System regulates every cell of our body.
Chiropractic focuses on correcting the vertebral subluxations and interferences generated on the vertebrae and avoiding correct body functioning.
The vast majority of its users feel better, recover faster and minimize the use of medications and surgeries.
Many people who enjoy chiropractic care feel less stress, have more vitality and live better daily.
No, it isn't. Chiropractic is a sanitary profession complementary to and different from medicine (according to WHO).
It is studied in specialized chiropractic universities. The chiropractic professional receives a minimum training of 5 years that guarantees the quality and safety of the service it offers.
During the chiropractic university career, you don't study surgery or pharmacy but deeper physiology, anatomy, radiology, neurology, and specific manual chiropractic techniques.
As this profession hasn't been approved yet in Spain, you must go to a "true" chiropractic.
Many people use this legacy to practice manipulations of the vertebral column without the correct studies and knowledge.
For this reason, it is essential that, if you are looking for a chiropractor, you check the web of Asociación Española de Quiropráctica, where you can find recognized professionals with studies.
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