Anxiety, Stress-Related and the Vagus Nerve Connection
Anxiety is often connected to disruptions in the autonomic nervous system. Traumatic events can induce neuroendocrine changes in endogenous stress systems, which consequently lead to alterations in neurotransmitter systems and neurogenic inflammation. Symptoms of an overactive nervous system and vagus nerve impairment can include anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, nervousness, insomnia, breathlessness, palpitations, inability to relax, and poor digestion and can be caused by vagus nerve impairment via¹:
Fight or Flight Response
The vagus nerve helps moderate the body's response to stress. When impaired, it leads to an overactive sympathetic nervous system due to reduced vagal tone, resulting in heightened states of anxiety and prolonged stress responses².
Low Stress Resilience
Stress often arises from the overactivity of the HPA axis, presenting a significant risk factor for vagus nerve dysfunction. An underactive vagus nerve diminishes the body's ability to return to a state of calm after stress, leading to chronic anxiety. The long-term activation of the stress response system and excessive exposure to stress hormones like cortisol can disrupt the HPA axis, a key neuroendocrine system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. This disruption increases the risk of various health problems, including anxiety and depression³.
Polyvagal Theory and PTSD
According to the Polyvagal Theory, the ventral vagus nerve, the most developed part of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), is responsible for promoting a sense of security, social connection, and relaxation. Trauma can induce neurogenic inflammation in this system, where stress-induced neuropeptide release leads to inflammatory responses in various body parts, causing chronic pain and psychological disorders. In cases of PTSD, individuals may lead to social withdrawal and hypervigilance⁴.
Impaired communication
The impaired function of the vagus nerve can interfere with communication among important brain regions, such as the anterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex. This disruption might result in issues with controlling emotions, increased fear reactions, difficulties with memory, and challenges in the brain's ability to adapt. Problems with the activation of certain brain areas are linked to anxiety and PTSD⁵'¹.
Brain-gut axis disruption
Traumatic events can inflict damage upon the vagus nerve, triggering consequential changes in neuroendocrine and metabolic systems, notably the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system. The impairment of the vagus nerve disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters, functional intestinal effector cells, and the intestinal microflora within the brain-gut axis. This disruption, extending through both the gut and the brain, exerts an influence on mood and cognitive functions, ultimately resulting in alterations in the brain associated with anxiety⁶.
- Okonogi T., Kuga N., et al. (2024). Stress-induced vagal activity influences anxiety-relevant prefrontal and amygdala neuronal oscillations in male mice. Nat Commun 15, 183.
- Porges S. W. (1995). Cardiac vagal tone: A physiological index of stress. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 19(2), 225–233.
- Breit S., Kupferberg A., et al. (2018). Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain–Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9.
- Porges S. W. (2009). The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 76.
- McEwen B. S. & Gianaros P.J. (2010). Central role of the brain in stress and adaptation: links to socioeconomic status, health, and disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1186, 190-222.
- Rosas-Ballina M., Olofsson P. S., et al. (2011). Acetylcholine-Synthesizing T Cells Relay Neural Signals in a Vagus Nerve Circuit. Science, 334(6052), 98–101.
Nurosym’s Effects on Health: Research-Based Insights
Nurosym, a certificated medical device, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system through the vagus nerve, acting like a calming messenger in the body. Its research delves into enhancing stress resilience and neuroplasticity by improving vagus nerve tone. This improved tone, achieved through stimulation, intentionally counters signals that trigger anxiety, offering potential benefits for stress response capabilities by:
Rest and Digest Response
Regular sessions with Nurosym can lead to a more balanced sympathetic and parasympathetic response by modulating the vagus nerve. It enhances the parasympathetic response ("rest and digest"), which is often underactive in states of anxiety and chronic stress. The vagus nerve sustains parasympathetic balance with subdued amygdala activity and enhanced prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity. Nurosym regulates the proper electrical function of the vagus nerve which can help maintain mental health and manage various bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, and immunity.
Improved Stress Resilience
By regulating the body's stress response, Nurosym can indirectly influence cognitive health and sleep patterns, which are facilitated by the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve, through its role in relieving inflammation and moderating the hyperactivity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, plays a significant role in adjusting circuits associated with the stress response. The result is an enhancement of mood, emotional stability, digestion, heart rate and sleep, beneficial in preventing anxiety attacks and its progression.
Polyvagal Theory
The subdued activity of the ventral vagus nerve, which is commonly observed in individuals suffering from PTSD. Nurosym therapy activates the vagus nerve, enhancing its tone, promoting activation of the ventral vagus nerve. This process fosters a sense of security and relaxation, mitigating heightened anxiety and chronic stress responses that are characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Neurogenesis
Nurosym has demonstrated the ability to positively modulate the inflammatory response. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been linked to alterations in hippocampal function (corticolimbic pathway). Research published by Neurotherapeutics has confirmed that the anti-inflammatory influence of the vagus nerve extends to promoting the connectivity of nerve cells in the hippocampus. Hippocampal connectivity is associated with the regulation of emotions, fear, memory, and the brain's ability to change and adapt (neuroplasticity improvement).
Brain-gut axis
The Nurosym device activates neural pathways by engaging the extensively connected vagus nerve, which includes connections to the brain-gut axis. This targeted activation modulates the body's stress response systems, specifically the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Through this established link, the vagus nerve becomes a mediator in impacting the release of neurotransmitters, with a particular focus on acetylcholine, functional intestinal effector cells, and the intestinal microflora. Studies conducted on germ-free animals demonstrated that microbiota influence stress reactivity, and regulate the set point for HPA activity in anxiety-like behaviour. This modulation extends its reach to crucial brain regions responsible for overseeing mood and cognitive functions related to anxiety. Emerging data underscore the substantial impact of vagus nerve modulation on anxiety and depressive behaviour, positioning the Nurosym device as a tool offering potential relief for individuals experiencing symptoms associated with anxiety, PTSD and depression.
Nurosym Research-Based Evidence
83% of Nurosym patients report improvements in anxiety, stress or stress resilience.
In clinical trials, patients undergoing Nurosym neuromodulation reported a remarkable 61% improvement in parasympathetic activity measured by Heart Rate Variability (HRV) (HF parameter), which serves as a crucial biomarker for stress, anxiety and vagus nerve health.
This significant enhancement in HRV suggests a positive impact on the autonomic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in stress regulation.
Fig (A, B, C D). The response of autonomic function measured by HRV in Nurosym or Placebo conditions over time: (A) HF, (B) RMSSD, (C) pRR50, (D) SDRR. With Nurosym, the measurements of HF, RMSSD, PRR50 and SDRR were significantly higher than those in Placebo (Parasym Clinical Trials, 2022).
Anxiety is directly linked to a chronic increase in the "fight or flight" sympathetic nervous system. Parasym research implies a significant shift toward the parasympathetic side, signifying a more pronounced relaxation response during Nurosym neuromodulation.
Fig (A, B, C). The figures illustrate changes in heart rate variability (HRV) during Nurosym neuromodulation. In Figure (A), High Frequency HRV significantly increases (*p=0.001). In Figure (B), Low Frequency HRV significantly decreases (*P=0.001). Figure (C) demonstrates that the ratio of LF to HF is significantly decreased (*p=0.002) (Parasym Clinical Trials, 2018).
The significant and sustained reduction in anxiety scores by 35% observed with the use of Nurosym, suggests that this device could be a valuable treatment strategy for managing anxiety and related conditions.
Fig. Chart illustrates changes in anxiety across three timepoints: pre-intervention (D0: Day 0), post-intervention (D10: Day 10), and 1-month follow-up after accomplished treatment. Boxplots are used for nonparametric data, while column graphs depict parametric data. Error bars represent the standard error. Significant level is indicated as ***p < 0.001.
Anxiety disorders can contribute to difficulties falling asleep, leading to insomnia. The group with pre-existing anxiety and depression undergoing active neuromodulation experienced an approximate 19% improvement in global sleep scores.
Fig. Change in global sleep scores. Change in global PROMIS Sleep Disturbance with 95% confidence intervals in individuals who underwent 10 days of daily active Nurosym neuromodulation and follow-up after 20 days without stimulation (Parasym Clinical Trials, 2024).
The improvements were more noticeable in individuals with a lower initial HRV.
Doctors about Nurosym
1. Burger A. M., Van der Does W., et al. (2019). Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Reduces Spontaneous but not Induced Negative Thought Intrusions in High Worriers. Biological Psychology.
Patients about Nurosym
Natalie
“I have found the Parasym device to be an extremely effective tool in improving the quality of my sleep, managing my levels of pain and reducing anxiety. Since using the Parasym I have been able to start working again which is a very significant improvement in my life.”
Who is for it?
Individuals dealing with primary anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, PTSD, and stress-related events may find Nurosym therapy beneficial. This certified medical device is designed to alleviate somatic symptoms associated with anxiety by actively engaging the parasympathetic "rest-and-digest" nervous system and regulating heart function. Over time, individuals may observe a reduction in persistent and uncontrollable worrying thoughts.
Certain anxiety patients prone to relapse, the challenges may stem from robust fear memories or deficiencies in extinction learning. Enhancing extinction learning could pave the way for more efficacious treatment with neuromodulation.
Protocol - How to Use
The anxiety Nurosym neuromodulation protocol involves alleviating the sensation of anxiety by addressing physical symptoms originating from the nervous system, with psychological therapy being recommended. The protocol consists of twice-daily one-hour sessions aimed at modulating neural circuits associated with anxiety using Nurosym. Additionally, using Nurosym before sleep may contribute to a more relaxed state, potentially offering a structured way to alleviate anxiety symptoms.
It is recommended to use Nurosym directly in stressful situations, as well as in the morning when cortisol levels are at their highest.
This device is designed to target the neurobiological aspects of anxiety disorders and offers a systematic method for addressing and mitigating anxiety symptoms through focused neuromodulation interventions on the parasympathetic system response.
How often
Nurosym is recommended for use twice daily based on clinical research and patient feedback. This regimen ensures optimal energy balancing and nervous system calming.
How long
Users should allocate 30 minutes in the morning and 60 minutes before sleep for Nurosym therapy sessions. Consistency in application is key to achieving desired results.
Results
Positive outcomes from Nurosym therapy may become noticeable within a relatively short timeframe. Many individuals report improvements within days of starting treatment.
