The Vagus Nerve And IBS - What Is The Connection?
Hi everyone. Welcome back to our channel.
IBS is a common condition that many individuals struggle with. When it comes to IBS. There are many different root causes that need to be investigated.
The vagus nerve connection is one that is often overlooked. So in today's video, we'll be discussing what is the vagus nerve and what are its functions, what is IBS, and what are some potential causes?
What is the connection between the vagus nerve and IBS?
How does dysregulation of the vagus nerve impact IBS symptoms?
And lastly, what are some strategies that can help regulate and support the vagus nerve?
[Video Transcript Below Video - it is the same information]
Hi, I'm Katie Bailey. I'm a gut health dietitian at Oswald Digestive Clinic, where we help individuals improve and resolve their bothersome gut issues.
If you're interested in learning more about gut health, I've linked our free guide Five Ways to Improve Your Gut Health HERE
All right, let's get started. On today's topic,
Vagus Nervie and IBS:
What is the vagus nerve and what are its functions?
The vagus nerve is the longest of the 12 cranial nerves in the human body extending from the brainstem to various organs, including the heart, the lungs, and the digestive system.
It plays a role in the autonomic nervous system, particularly the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for managing involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion. The vagus nerve transmits information between the brain and various organs facilitating communication and coordination. Now, this is a bi-directional pathway, meaning that signals travel in both directions.
The connection between the brain and the body is often referred to as the gut-brain access. Now, the vagus nervous comprised of afferent fibers that carry sensory information from the organs to the brain in efferent fibers that transmit motor signals from the brain to organs facilitating their function and behavior.
What is IBS and what are some potential causes?
So IBS is a GI disorder that is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel movements. It is classified into three subtypes that are based on the predominant bowel pattern.
So IBS-C is primarily IBS with constipation. IBS-D is primarily IBS with diarrhea. And then IBS-M is a mixture of both diarrhea and constipation. With IBS, there are no structural abnormalities or visible damage to the digestive system. However, the symptoms can often be very debilitating and significantly impact in individual's daily life. Although the root causes of IBS are going to vary from person to person, that some potential causes include altered gut motility, dysregulation of the gut, brain access, gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, SIBO stress, and food sensitivities.
What is the connection between the vagus nerve and IBS?
Well, the vagus nerve plays an important role in the connection between the gut and the brain.
This connection is essential for a healthy digestive function.
However, in individuals with IBS, there is growing research suggesting that the dysregulation of the vagus nerve may contribute to the development and persistence of IBS symptoms. Now, the vagus nerve plays a role in the body's stress response as well. Stress can affect the vagal tone, which potentially can disrupt gut motility and secretion, which can contribute to uncomfortable IBS symptoms.
How does dysregulation of the vagus nerve impact IBS symptoms?
So dysregulation of the vagus nerve can manifest in several different ways contributing to the development and exacerbation of IBS symptoms. The first way is through altered gut brain communication. So we know that the vagus nerve facilitates communication between the brain and the gut.
So dysregulation may lead to miscommunication or misinterpretation of signals that can cause increased pain sensitivity, altered bowel movements, and an exaggerated stress response that will all impact gut function.
The next way that dysregulation can impact IBS symptoms is through parasympathetic nervous system imbalance. So we know that the vagus nerve plays a huge role in our parasympathetic nervous system. So dysregulation or dysfunction of the vagus nerve can impair the regulation of our digestive processes and altered gut motility and secretion.
Next is inflammation and immune function.
So the vagus nerve has anti-inflammatory properties and dysregulation of the vagus nerve can increase inflammation and alter our immune response in the gut. And then lastly, the vagus nerve plays a role in our stress response in the body.
And so dysregulation can lead to a heightened sensitivity to stress in the gut as well as increased intestinal permeability and exacerbation of IBS symptoms during times of stress. Now that we know more about the connection between the vagus nerve and IBS,
What are some strategies for regulating and supporting the vagus nerve?
So given the role that vagus nerve dysregulation plays in IBS, it's really important to support the function of this important nerve. And there's many different ways of doing this. The first is through vagus nerve stimulation. So there are many different ways to stimulate the vagus nerve. Naturally, things like deep and slow breathing, making certain sounds like gargling, or just singing loudly, cold exposure, physical exercise, acupuncture, and massage.
The next thing we can do is to practice stress management. So doing things like yoga or practicing mindfulness or doing meditation. So reducing our stress levels can really regulate the vagus nerve function. So the next thing is diet and exercise.
So eating a balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, whole nutrient dense foods, while really trying to eliminate food triggers and food sensitivities while working on overall gut health can be really helpful. There's also herbal remedies.
So certain herbs like ginger and turmeric and chamomile all have anti-inflammatory properties that may support vagus nerve function as well as overall digestive health. And then lastly, there are mind body therapy. So cognitive behavioral therapy and gut directed psychotherapy can all help to regulate that gut brain access and improve vagus nerve function.
In Conclusion
So to wrap up our topic for today, the connection between vagus, the vagus nerve and IBS should not be overlooked as it can significantly impact IBS symptoms through altered gut motility and digestion, gut brain miscommunication, immune dysregulation, and the body's stress response addressing vagus nerve dysregulation through vagus nerve simulation, mind body therapies, stress management, diet and exercise, and potential herbs. We can potentially alleviate IBS symptoms and improve quality of life.
However, it's essential to recognize that IBS is not one size fits all and individual factors need to be considered for effective treatment. If you are struggling with IBS and you need some assistance in determining what may be contributing to your IBS symptoms, we'd be happy to help.
Alright, that's it for today's video. If you liked this video, please hit the like button and subscribe for more nutrition videos. If you're interested in working with our clinic, you can click the link HERE to schedule an appointment. We do take insurance.
You can find more information about that on our website. Thank you for watching. I'll see you next time. Bye.
If you'd like to explore any of this information further or obtain an individualized nutrition plan, you can schedule an initial appointment at our clinic. We also take insurance and some of our clients get full coverage, which is great.
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