Vagus Nerve Issues in Norwood MA

Vagus nerve issues in Norwood MA can manifest as a wide range of symptoms affecting various bodily functions.

• Cardiovascular and Neurological Symptoms:
  1. Changes in heart rate and blood pressure
  2. Dizziness and fainting
  3. Difficulty in swallowing or loss of gag reflex
  4. Hoarseness, wheezing or loss of voice
• Digestive Issues:
  1. Abdominal pain and bloating
  2. Acid Reflux (GERD)
  3. Nausea and Vomiting
  4. Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly
  5. Constipation
• Other Symptoms:
  1. Chronic pain
  2. Headaches (including migraines)
  3. Dysautonomia
  4. Systemic inflammation and autoimmune disorders
  5. Chronic fatigue and excessive stress response
  6. Small intestinal bowel overgrowth
  7. Restlessness and body trembling
  8. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

The vagus nerve is the 10th cranial nerve.  A cranial nerve exits the brain directly above the spinal cord.  The vagus nerve is also called the “wanderer” because it travels far throughout the body and can affect a wide range of structures, including the muscles of the throat, larynx, and soft palate; the heart; the lungs; and the gastrointestinal tract.   Strain or irritation of the vagus nerve can occur when the head is pulled downward excessively in an effort to stabilize the body's posture.

This issue falls within the category of head-related symptoms. From a postural and muscular tension perspective, the head often becomes overwhelmed due to compression from both above and below—tightening of the scalp muscles from the top and pulling from the neck muscles below. This creates significant strain on the structures of the head and is a likely contributor to the problem. Dr. Smyth refers to this pattern as "Hard Head Syndrome," a condition that can often be felt both by the practitioner during examination and by the patient themselves as a sense of pressure or tightness in the head.

Gravity is constantly pushing down on our bodies, and it's the body's job to resist that force to maintain an upright posture. The head, being the topmost structure, often serves as the body’s final line of defense—like a parking brake or emergency brake—when the rest of the system is under strain. This compensatory role of the head typically occurs when the lower structures of the body are already overwhelmed with tension or have shifted into weakened, unstable positions.

The skull is not a single solid bone, but rather a complex structure made up of multiple bones—specifically six flat bones (the frontal, occipital, two parietal, and two temporal bones), along with several others. These bones are connected in a way that allows for subtle, natural movements throughout life, known as cranial rhythm. When the body is under postural stress, the head often tilts and twists to compensate, leading the muscles of the skull and neck to tighten and harden. As these thin muscles become increasingly strained—particularly when the neck pulls the head downward—the structures and nerves within the head can become compressed and overwhelmed, often resulting in symptoms such as pressure, discomfort, or neurological irritation.

The QSM3 approach in Norwood MA

Your body is very likely in a bad shifted place to be causing this.  The QSM3 approach is to assess and figure out the underlying stress problem by measuring your body’s shifted and twisting postural holding stress pattern as well as take full spine imaging to see and analyze your body’s structural stress.  Then the doctor can start to unwind the holding pattern to reduce the neurological strain of the holding pattern to shift it back down the body and away from the head.  As the tension shifts back down to lower tissues and structures, the head is less overwhelmed and the symptom often decreases and disappears.  Vagus symptoms are typically caused by a very deep pattern that takes care over a period of time to help.  Our goal is a help every problem as quickly as possible and as much as possible at each session.

Dr. Andy measures your body each visit before and after to evaluate the effect and progress of care so that he can make it as effective as possible for you.  The quicker and more he can unshift and untwist your body into a better position, the quicker you receive the help you are looking for.