What Are the Vagus Nerve Damage Symptoms?

Have you been experiencing unexplained digestive issues, heart palpitations, or mood changes? These may be signs of vagus nerve damage. The vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve in the body, plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. In this article, we'll explore the symptoms, potential causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for vagus nerve damage symptoms, so you can take steps towards better health.

What is the vagus nerve?

The vagus nerve is the longest and most complex of the cranial nerves in the human body. It is also called the tenth cranial nerve or CN X. It is part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as digestion, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

Vagus nerve activity originates from the base of the brain. It then connects and distributes nerve branches to the rest of the body, such as the chest and abdomen. This is why it’s often referred to as the gut-brain connection.

The majority of nerve fibers supply communication signals to and from your local connective tissues, blood vessels, and organs, directing them to do what they should do.

Vagus nerve and body functions

The vagus nerve is made up of three types of nerve fibers: somatic nerves, which control sensations around your skin and muscles, visceral fibers, which regulate the functions of your internal organs, and special visceral efferent fibers, which carry motor signals.

• Cardiovascular function. It helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure.
• Digestive health. It controls motility, secretion, and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Respiratory function. It helps regulate breathing.
• Immune response. It plays a role in modulating inflammatory responses and interacting with the immune system.
• Emotional regulation. It may affect your mood.

The vagus nerve’s widespread influence on the body makes it a core component of overall health. Doctors often refer to vagal tone — a metric for the vagus nerve’s functions — as a marker of an individual’s physical and mental health.

Ad

Vagus nerve stimulation for calm and sleep

Help your body relax, reduce stress, and improve sleep in just 4 minutes with the Pulsetto vagus nerve stimulator.

Get $200 OFF!

Try Pulsetto

Potential vagus nerve damage symptoms

Symptoms of vagus nerve damage can vary, depending on the area affected. Potential symptoms of vagus nerve damage include:

• Digestive issues. If the vagus nerve gets damaged, the muscles around the small intestine and stomach may not work optimally. This leads to gut health problems such as gastroparesis, nausea, vomiting, and bloating.
• Cardiovascular changes. The vagus nerve helps control the heart rate. When it's damaged, it cannot slow the heart rate, leading to higher heart rates. This can be a severe problem for those with heart conditions. In rare cases, it can also lead to low heart rate and blood pressure.
• Difficulty swallowing. Vagal neuropathy may lead to dysphagia, which is difficulty or discomfort while swallowing.
• Voice changes. The vagus nerve controls the muscles of the larynx, so damage may cause hoarseness or a weak voice.
• Respiratory problems. Vagus nerve damage may cause respiratory issues such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Chronic pain. Low vagal tone may contribute to chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia.
• Mood disorders. Due to the vagus nerve's role in the gut-brain axis, it is hypothesized that there may be a relationship between the nerve’s damage and a higher risk of anxiety and depression-related symptoms. Further clinical trials are vital to substantiate these health claims.
• Impaired heart rate variability (HRV). Vagus nerve damage can lead to lower vagal activity. Evidence suggests that reduced HRV is linked to lower vagal functioning. However, more research is needed to support its connection with vagus nerve damage.
• Increased inflammation. Preliminary evidence suggests that stimulating the vagus nerve regulates inflammation. As such, damage to the vagus nerve may result in the opposite effect and cause inflammation; however, more clinical trials are needed to support this claim.

Have you experienced any of the above symptoms? Did you visit a doctor and get treatment for your diagnosis? Share your experience below in the comments section.

Causes of damaged vagus nerve

There are various factors and medical conditions that have associations with vagus nerve damage.

These may include:

• Direct injury. Trauma, physical injuries, or surgical interventions near the nerve can directly damage the vagus nerve. Examples include skull fractures and neck or chest surgeries.
• Infections. Certain infections, especially viral ones such as COVID-19, can cause inflammation and potentially damage to the nerve.
• Autoimmune diseases. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic sclerosis can cause the body to attack its tissues, potentially damaging the vagus nerve.
• Chronic diseases. Diabetes and other chronic conditions can cause damage to the vagus nerve.
• Cancer. Treatments for cancer tumors such as radiation can also harm the vagus nerve.
• Surgery. There is a risk of damaging the vagus nerve when performing surgeries close to it, such as during a thyroidectomy — the removal of the thyroid glands.

Can vagus nerve damage be diagnosed?

Vagus nerve dysfunction is diagnosed based on the symptoms you may feel or experience. Your doctor will need to perform certain tests to determine whether, where, and how much damage your vagus nerve has. Here are some of the tests your doctor might perform.

Clinical evaluation

The first step in diagnosing vagus nerve damage will typically be a clinical examination. This may include assessing voice changes, swallowing difficulties, and other related symptoms.

Your doctor may also ask for your medical history. This might reveal causes or incidents, such as surgery or infection, that could potentially lead to vagus nerve dysfunction.

Gastrointestinal tests

Doctors use gastrointestinal tests to diagnose gastroparesis. Gastroparesis can be caused when damage to the vagus nerve stops food from passing from your stomach to the intestines. Understanding its symptoms can help diagnose vagus nerve damage.

Three primary tests fall under this category: esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), gastric emptying study, and upper GI series. EGD involves using an endoscope, a thin tube with a light and camera, to make it possible for the doctor to see the lining of the stomach, esophagus, and small intestine.

During a gastric emptying study, you eat a small meal containing a harmless amount of radioactive material. This allows your radiologist to trace how food travels through your stomach on an X-ray table.

An upper GI series involves drinking a substance called barium. Then, a radiologist uses a method called fluoroscopy to track how barium travels through the body.

Heart rate variability test

A heart rate variability (HRV) test is a type of ECG that checks for changes in heart rate. It is part of vagus nerve diagnosis in cases of heart problems.

There are two types of nervous systems that regulate your heart rate: sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for accelerating your heart rate, while the parasympathetic slows it down. The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic system.

Imaging tests

If you experience any vocal or breathing problems, your doctor may order imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

CT scans can help visualize elements surrounding the vagus nerve, while MRIs can offer more detailed images of the nerve itself and are useful in detecting lesions.

Is there a way to treat damaged vagus nerve?

If you need treatment for a damaged vagus nerve, this typically aims to manage your symptoms, address any underlying causes, and restore the nerve’s function as much as possible.

The actual therapy you’ll receive vastly depends on the location of the nerve damage and its impact on your vital organs.

Gastroparesis

The aim of treatment for gastroparesis is to stimulate the stomach muscles and motivate them to empty, which may help reduce the symptoms.

Treatments include:

• Dietary changes. These may include lots of water or soups for hydration and eating low-fat and low-fiber small meals 4–5 times a day. Your doctor will likely recommend avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and carbonated drinks, as these can aggravate your symptoms.
• Medications. These include antiemetics such as diphenhydramine and anti-depressants.
• Non-medical therapies. For more serious cases, gastric electrical stimulation may be used, a surgical procedure helpful for people who have gastroparesis.

Difficulty swallowing

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) can be life-threatening. Treatment may help reduce the risk of long-term complications from pneumonia, dehydration, and other medical conditions. Treatments for dysphagia include:

• Swallowing techniques, such as tilting or moving your head in a certain position.
• Dietary modifications, as instructed by a doctor depending on the individual’s condition.
• Gastrostomy tube, which may be recommended if other treatments don’t work.

Low blood pressure

Treatments for low blood pressure include drinking more fluids and/or prescribed medications that readjust your blood pressure.

You may also need lifestyle changes, such as diet modifications or the use of compression stockings.

Fibromyalgia

The primary treatment of fibromyalgia is lifestyle changes, followed by drug treatments. These include:

• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Improving sleep hygiene
• Cardiovascular fitness
• Antidepressants and anticonvulsant medications

Mental health

According to the National Library of Medicine, both anxiety and depression may be treated with a variety of medications, as well as combinations. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Cognitive behavioral therapy can also be an effective, non-invasive option for mental health conditions.

Low heart rate variability

You may improve your HRV by taking care of your mind and body. These include exercise, controlled breathing, and reducing stress.

Epilepsy and resistant depression

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is one of the key treatments for conditions linked to vagus nerve damage, especially when other conventional treatments fail.

VNS refers to stimulating the vagus nerve. While this can be achieved in a non-invasive manner with manual therapy, such as a massage, for treatment-resistant cases of depression or epilepsy, it usually involves a device implanted under the skin that delivers electrical impulses.

Other potential remedies that may support vagus nerve damage symptoms

In addition to standard medical treatments for vagus nerve damage symptoms, such as VNS, there are additional remedies and practices that may support vagus nerve health and alleviate symptoms.

While these methods have shown promising results, they should not replace conventional treatments but may complement them under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Vagus nerve exercises

Vagus nerve exercises aim to activate or stimulate the vagus nerve through non-invasive means, promoting relaxation of the nervous system and enhancing vagal tone. One effective exercise is deep, slow breathing, where you take deep breaths and exhale longer than you inhale.

Vagus nerve devices

While medical devices for VNS typically involve surgical implantation, non-invasive VNS devices also exist. These can stimulate the vagus nerve through the skin. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has been explored for various conditions in preliminary studies, showing hypothetical benefits in managing headache pain and improving mood disorders.

Vagus nerve massage

Vagus nerve massage focuses on areas where the vagus nerve can be influenced externally, like behind the earlobe and along the sides of the neck. Gentle massage in these areas can help stimulate the vagus nerve, promoting a state of relaxation and potentially improving vagal tone over time.

The vagus nerve plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being. If it is damaged or not working well, a wide range of symptoms can arise, affecting various bodily functions. By understanding the potential causes, symptoms, and diagnostic methods for vagus nerve damage, you can seek medical care and explore treatment options to manage your condition effectively.

While standard medical treatments like VNS are available, complementary therapies such as vagus nerve exercises and massage may also provide additional support.

Do you have any questions about vagus nerve damage? Share them below in the comments section.