It happens that a person adheres to almost all the rules of a healthy lifestyle, the principles of a balanced diet, does not smoke or drink, even regularly performs physical exercises, but despite this, his health suddenly worsens. At the same time, he has severe headaches, malfunctions of the heart, discomfort in the digestive tract, and sometimes asthma attacks.
Often the cause of all these phenomena are all kinds of pathologies of the vagus nerve. Symptoms of these diseases are indeed very diverse and greatly complicate timely diagnosis. Where the vagus nerve is located, what it is, how it works and affects well-being - everyone should know the answers to all these questions.
Where is
In fact, the nervous system is the most complex in the human body. That is why all sorts of disorders in its functioning are definitely reflected in the well-being and work of various parts of the body and internal organs. If the vagus nerve is damaged, the symptoms can be extremely unpleasant. A person with a similar diagnosis can expect a whole "bunch" of various pathologies and disorders in the body. So it is very important to timely detect emerging disorders and tackle their correct elimination.
For the first time having heard such a phrase as "vagus nerve", everyone wonders why it is so strange called. In medicine, another name is used to determine this receptor - “vagus”, which comes from the Latin language and translates as “wandering”. The nerve got such an unusual name due to its very long trunk, which has numerous branches located in most of the entire human body.
The vagus begins in the cranium, or rather in the medulla oblongata. Penetrating the cervical and thoracic regions, it reaches the lungs and heart, and then descends to the digestive tract and other internal organs. Vagus is a component of twelve pairs of nerves that originate in the brain stem. In science, he has a serial number of 10.
What functions does
Vagus is considered the largest nerve. It really performs many functions and consists of sensory, motor and secretory fibers. Its activity is directly related to the autonomic system. The proper functioning of the vagus nerve provides a large number of reflexes, as well as vital functions. For example, it controls:
- functioning of the respiratory system;
- swallowing process;
- speech function;
- cough;
- gag reflexes;
- cardiac muscle activity;
- the work of the stomach.
Reasons for defeat
The nervous system of every person is extremely vulnerable, and the vagus nerve is no exception in this matter. Most often, the causes of its damage are:
- diabetes mellitus, which contributes to the onset of inflammatory processes in the vessels against the background of too high a glucose level in the blood;
- chronic forms of diseases are the most common consequences of HIV or Parkinson's syndrome, since these defects negatively affect nerve receptors;
- surgical interventions and all kinds of injuries due to which the nerve was pinched or damaged;
- hematomas and abnormal neoplasms that exert excessive pressure on the nerve;
- alcoholism, which provokes damage to the structure of the fibers of the vagus;
- severe course of infectious pathologies;
- toxic poisoning that can harm nerve structures;
- protracted stress.
Vagus nerve diagnosis
Symptoms and treatment of any pathologies associated with the vagus are determined primarily by the reasons that influenced their occurrence. And to identify them, a competent diagnosis should be made. In addition, it is necessary to detect certain diseases that appear against the background of vagus nerve damage.
Symptoms that suggest suspicion of damage to the vagus are a serious reason for a competent diagnosis. First of all, it is very important to determine the causes, mechanism and degree of nerve damage. To do this, you should contact a neurologist who will prescribe several instrumental examinations, including: magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography of the brain, x-ray of the chest and skull, electrocardiogram and other studies. During the examination, the doctor can use some techniques that will allow you to detect disorders in the work of the vagus nerve and determine their degree:
- verification of the activity of the larynx;
- determination of the sonority of voice and the purity of pronunciation of certain sounds;
- control of the nature of the reduction of the sky;
- a thorough examination of the pharyngeal and palatine reflex;
- verification of swallowing function;
- laryngeal examination with a laryngoscope.
Clinical picture
Taking into account the number of functions, damage to the vagus affects the activity of many internal organs and systems. The disorder can be caused by various factors, among which are trauma, operations, tumors, serious chemical poisoning, chronic infections and other vagus nerve pathologies. Symptoms of the disease largely depend on which department is affected. Most often, the clinical manifestations of the disease in all patients are similar:
- cranial box - regular headaches, discomfort in the ear area, hearing impairment;
- cervical spine - a violation of swallowing function, a change in the timbre of the voice, the occurrence of hoarseness, disorder of normal speech, difficulty breathing syndrome, a sensation of a lump in the throat;
- thoracic region - pain in the damaged area, difficulty breathing, impaired heartbeat, weakening of the cough reflex;
- abdomen - discomfort in the abdominal cavity, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting.
Symptoms of vagus inflammation
Treatment of this pathology is primarily aimed at eliminating its unpleasant manifestations and the causes that led to development. The defeat of the vagus nerve of an inflammatory nature, which is often caused by infections or toxic poisoning, is often associated with trauma to other cranial trunks. This process manifests itself in different ways, depending on the specific damage zone. The main symptoms of vagus inflammation are:
- the occurrence of nasal in the absence of a runny nose;
- difficulty swallowing pieces of food;
- frequent dizziness.
By the way, it is the last sign of pathology that is usually ignored by the patient at the initial stage of the disease.
Symptoms of vagal tone disorder
By this pathological condition is meant a process in which the body ceases to be provided with full adaptation in response to the changes surrounding the person, emotional and physical stress. It is the vagus nerve tone that controls the level of mental health. If it is normal, then the person’s pulse rises slightly during inhalation and decreases at the time of exhalation; he is in a good mood. But a reduced level of vagus nerve tone is accompanied by symptoms such as a complete lack of cheerfulness, a feeling of loneliness, heart attacks.
Vagus irritation
Such a pathology can develop against the background of pinching due to squeezing by vessels or abnormal neoplasms of the nerve in the area of the chest, neck or skull. A separate type of lesion is neuralgia of the upper guest receptor - one of the branches of the tenth pair of cranial trunks. It is believed that the basis of the disease is pinching of the vagus when piercing the thyroid hyoid membrane. Symptoms of vagus nerve irritation are expressed primarily in the appearance of specific seizures that occur at the time of eating and are characterized by:
- acute pain in the larynx from one side;
- severe cough;
- general malaise;
- fainting state.
This pathology can provoke an abnormal increase in the functioning of the endocrine glands, against the background of which an excessive amount of pancreatic and gastric juice is produced. It is quite possible to increase intestinal motility, which negatively affects the process of digestion and assimilation of food. With a decrease in activity, paralysis or damage to the vagus nerve, the symptoms and treatment of the pathology become interrelated. So, doctors first of all do everything possible to get rid of the reverse reactions in the activity of the digestive tract.
Arrhythmia
Failure in the heart rate is often one of the symptoms of the vagus nerve. In this situation, doctors classify arrhythmia as a vaginal dependent neurogenic. The effect of the vagus nerve on cardiac activity increases at night, as well as after exercise and eating.
At this point, the patient may experience typical pain, which is accompanied by fear of death, dizziness, and excessive sweating. In addition, the disrupted work of the vagus nerve can provoke the development of tachycardia, bradycardia and extrasystole.
Recommendations
It is impossible to say with certainty what specific therapy is needed to identify vagal pathologies. After all, it depends on the type and degree of damage, the causes of development, as well as a list of deviations and symptoms. The treatment of the vagus nerve should be trusted only by a specialist, in no case should you self-medicate. Often, therapy is limited only to medical courses and involves the use of:
- B vitamins;
- corticosteroids;
- anticholinesterase agents.
For severe symptoms of the vagus nerve, it is recommended that it be stimulated by electrical impulses. In some cases, patients are even prescribed surgery. But sometimes patients should know how to calm the vagus during the next attack on their own. In addition, it is very important to prevent exacerbation of the symptoms of the vagus nerve. So that he does not provoke the occurrence of arrhythmia, it is necessary:
- hold breath;
- dip your face in cold water;
- massage the neck.
Treatment
Traditional medicine primarily provides for the elimination of the original cause of the development of vagus nerve pathologies. For example, if the disease is provoked by an infection, the main role in therapy is given to antibacterial or antiviral drugs. In case of detection of a serious injury or tumor, it will be advisable only to have surgical intervention that will help relieve pressure on the vagus.
No less interconnected are the symptoms and treatment of the vagus nerve. To eliminate the unpleasant signs of pathology, multivitamin complexes, hormonal steroid preparations, Diphenhydramine and Proserinum can be used.
As a restorative therapy, plasmapheresis, milgamma and electrical stimulation are preferred.
It is worth saying that only complex treatment of the vagus nerve can bring positive dynamics.