“Is autonomic nervous system dysfunction a trigger or a secondary factor caused by the disease?” That is one of the most important questions that the authors of that book are asking and trying to find an answer to. The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are not counterparts of the autonomic nervous system; they act in various combinations. For example, in tachycardia, normally we assume that sympathetic activity is high and parasympathetic activity is low. But we can observe six different activity patterns. Also, individuals with anorexia nervosa demonstrate increased parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity; however, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation can induce weight gain in anorexic patients, as shown in a study.
There is also a section that touches on the effects of exercise types on the autonomic nerves. Sympathetic activity increased in the aerobic exercise group, while both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity increased in the resistance exercise group.
Finally, the sympathetic nervous system is thought to induce an inflammatory response, but it can have an antiinflammatory effect in the chronic stages of diseases.
I highly recommend reading this book because we are entering a period where the roots of different diseases will be discovered, and the autonomic nervous system will play an important role in this.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selen Gür, MD
What if one nerve held the key to your physical and emotional well-being?
The vagus nerve—a long-overlooked superhighway connecting brain, body, and internal organs—plays a central role in how we respond to stress, recover from illness, and even connect with others.
In this eye-opening book, you’ll discover the fascinating science behind the vagus nerve, how it shapes our daily lives, and how low-level electrical stimulation can stimulate this powerful nerve to promote healing, relaxation, and resilience.
Step into the transformative world of neuromodulation and learn how tuning into your nervous system might just change everything
