Vagus nerve active during exercise, research finds | Hacker News Reader

Vagus nerve active during exercise, research finds

medicalxpress.com

58 pointsPaulHoule27 comments

Well sometimes the vagus nerve gets stimulated when taking a poo too, and when it does, it can lower blood pressure and heart rate. It seems like the vagus nerve has its many benefits in both humans and sheep!

I applaud your sarcasm. Don't know why the media (or HN?) has recently obsessed with the vagus nerve.

This makes a lot of sense to me. I have a disorder of the sympathetic nervous system (CRPS) and a rare cardiac condition (Brugada Syndrome). The inter-relationships between exercise, cardiac arrythmias and nerve pain flares is very strong and complicated.

I take this as further evidence that exercise is dangerous.

> I take this as further evidence that exercise is dangerous.

What does this even mean? Whatever we call exercise is an arbitrary threshold. Humans, unless they live their life bound to a chair, move about, in different degrees, and anything more than walking we can call exercise.

Humans have evolved to cross this exercise threshold multiple times a day simply to survive (who's gonna catch that running antelope?), so how can moderate movement for more than 5 minutes be dangerous?

It might be because of your set of physical issues, but it's not a rule.

Perhaps if I'd put a <sarcasm> tag around that last sentence you would have understood it.

“Exercise considered harmful”

I guess so, him and many others including I.

Dunno it was obvious to me that s/he meant it in a half ironic jokey way as in "I don't like exercise and I say this to justify the dislike but I know that it's not really true".

After mentioning the physical issues you have when you exercise, it was quite hard to tell you were being sarcastic.

Never succumb to the temptation of adding `/s`

Those who depend on it to see sarcasm need to either lighten up or read more novels. Was clearly sarcastic; you're not crazy.

> > I take this as further evidence that exercise is dangerous. > > What does this even mean?

Maybe not in GP's comment, but I've been seeing more and more Instagram content lately about "exercise = dangerous". And investigating further, it's always by the accounts that are perpetuating flat earth, numerology, and Andrew Tate.

This truth springs directly from the mind of esteemed athlete and physiologist Donald J Trump, does it not?

lol what!?

I wonder if any of this is also related with leg day nausea.

ACTH is used to test for primary & secondary adrenal insuficiency yes? It can indicate where on the HPA axis is damaged? What effect does Cortisol insuficiency have on vagus/autonomic nervous function? Can hydrocortisone and ACTH supplementation be used to improve damaged HPA axis?

in sheep

Takes 5 paragraphs to get to "in sheep", then carries on like "in sheep" never happened...

What are you talking about? It has an entire paragraph explaining why they did the tests in sheep.

"The trial was conducted in sheep, because of their similarity to humans in many important respects including cardiac anatomy and physiology. They are also well-established as an animal model to assist with finding ways to combat heart disease that translate to humans."

But up to that point, which is way down the article, the whole thing is written as if it could be talking about people. “The heart”, “the gut”: without qualifying these (repeatedly) the assumption people will make is that it’s talking about humans.

Anecdotally, I notice that exercise makes me feel calmer

I need to swim 3 times a week and bike to work every day to not bite someone's head off or become depressed.

Exercise does all kind of magic things to your body. I learned just yesterday that exercise stimulates growth of new mitochondria, which is pretty darn spectacular.

Oh god is this the new serotonin? It is isn't it. The magic nerve!

"Here's 10 superfoods that boost your vitamin D levels, helping you relax your vagus nerve during your meditation sessions," soon on the front page of your favorite newspaper.

Not sure, but I have my Tragus hooked up to a small electrics pulse generator (TENS 7000) so I’m sure it’s not what you are implying. Very legitimate. I’m sure. Otherwise, why electrocute my ears? Duh.

Actually I’ve been monitoring my HR and HRV using a chest strap and seeing if some gentle stimulation does anything. Supposedly electrical impulses can help a failing vagal nerve and I think ADHD drugs damaged my nerve. It’s a theory. Maybe it’s snake oil but you sound too hyped up, maybe you need some tVNS too.

I also use TENS/EMS on my tragus (second electrode ~C3-C4). With the right intensity/pattern (which varies time to time based on comfort), it wears me out and makes me a little groggy after. Anecdotal evidence is what it is though.

As a side note, I read somewhere that this should only be done on left side due to the right Vagal nerve possibly having more interaction with the heart. Nothing to cite other than a fair-warning of something relevant.

> Very legitimate.

Very legitimate at what? It's the characterization of the values nerve I don't believe our media providers have the means to evaluate. The parallel with serotonin is that the coverage has led many people think it's the "chemical that I get depressed when I don't have", which is an absurdly poor understanding of it.

I’m sorry, it was meant to be tongue in cheek. Like probiotics , it cures everything from IBS to heart disease to anxiety. probiotics are very legitimate. Chocolate is very legitimate and that’s basically pure serotonin, so if you’re depressed eat chocolate. Etc.

You are correct that there are more questions than answers.

The serious part of my original comment, I have recently started trying tVNS. I think it might be improving my sleep. Definitely seems to lower HR. But of course, who’s to say what is doing what with these personal small experiments.

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