Let's learn about our body's "relaxation" system? (Parasympathetic Nervous System - PSNS)

Have you ever wondered how some of the things in your body – breathing, your heart beating, your digestion – are controlled automatically, without you even realizing it? Many of these very important tasks happen inside our bodies without us even thinking about them. The reason for this is that our body has an 'automatic' system. Today we are going to talk about a very important part of that automatic system, the one that brings us relaxation – that is the parasympathetic nervous system , or as doctors call it (Parasympathetic Nervous System - PSNS) .

What is this parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)?

Simply put, your parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is part of your autonomic nervous system. It can also be called the "automatic" nervous system, because it is responsible for many processes that you control without even thinking about them. For example, it controls your heart rate, blood pressure , digestion, urination, and sweating. Think about it, there is another part of your autonomic nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system . It is responsible for preparing your body for "fight or flight." That is, it is activated in times of danger or fear. However, the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is completely different. It controls your body's activities when you are at rest and calm. The two are like two sides of a coin, helping each other and maintaining balance .

What happens in the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)?

The main function of this system is to calm or slow down your body's activity. That's why it's called "rest and digest" or "feed and breed." These words are easy to remember. Let's see what effects this system has on different parts of our body:

• Eyes: Imagine if you suddenly went into a bright place and your eyes felt blue, right? At that time, this system is what causes the black pupil inside your eye to constrict, that is, shrink, to limit the amount of light entering your eyes. It also makes changes that help you see things that are close to you clearly, like when you read a book or a newspaper. It also causes tears to flow from your eyes, which protects your eyes from drying out.

• Nose and mouth:When you are at rest, the glands in your mouth are stimulated to produce more saliva. The glands in your nose also help produce mucus. This saliva and mucus are important for digesting food and making it easier to breathe during rest.

• Lungs: When you are relaxed, your lungs don't have to work as hard. So, the muscles in your airways tighten (constrict), reducing the amount of work your lungs have to do.

• Heart: This is very important. It reduces your heart rate , and also reduces the force with which the heart beats, which is the force with which the heart pumps blood. This is why the heart beats faster when we sleep and are at rest.

• Digestive tract: This is the main part of what is called "rest and digest." When you eat a healthy meal, the rate of digestion increases and the energy required for it is directed to that area. Not only that, but your pancreas is also told to make a hormone called insulin and release it into the blood. This insulin is used to break down the sugars we eat and make them available for use by our body's cells.

• Waste removal: When you need to urinate or defecate, this system relaxes the muscles that control it, facilitating the process.

• Reproductive system: This system also helps manage some important things related to the body's sexual functions. For example, it is involved in things like erections in men and the secretion of lubricant during sexual intercourse in women.

What is the difference between the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic nervous systems?

As we've talked about before, the roles of these two nervous systems are opposites, but they're both essential to our bodies, not like two double-edged swords, but like two friends who help each other. Think of it like the Sympathetic Nervous System, which is like our body's "emergency manager." When there's danger, fear, or a threat, it's what comes to the fore. It increases the heart rate, dilates the eyes, and speeds up breathing—all of these things are done to give us the energy to deal with that situation. However, if this system is active for too long, it can tire the body and put a strain on various systems. That's when the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS) comes into play.It comes to the rescue. It does this by bringing the body's systems that were agitated back to normal, to a calm state. That is, because these two systems control each other, our body maintains balance. Also, when you are calm and safe, it is this parasympathetic system (PSNS) that manages the activities of the organs throughout your body. Although these functions are not associated with danger or risk, they are essential to keeping you healthy and alive.

Where is the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) located?

The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), as we mentioned earlier, is one of two parts of the autonomic nervous system. Your autonomic nervous system is a subset of the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is your brain and spinal cord, and all the other nervous tissue in your body. Surprisingly, your parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) uses 4 of your 12 cranial nerves. These cranial nerves are the nerves that connect directly to your brain. Three of these four nerves only connect to the senses and glands in your eyes, nose, and mouth. But the fourth, the vagus nerve , is very special. It connects to parts of your mouth, and it also runs down your neck, into your chest, and into your abdomen. In fact, the Vagus Nerve makes up about 75% of your entire parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). It connects to many important internal organs, such as your heart and lungs. In addition, this system also uses some spinal nerves at the bottom of your spine. These are the ones that send signals to your bladder and bowels, relaxing them and helping you go to the bathroom.

What is this made of?

The components of the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) are very similar to those found in other parts of the nervous system. The main type of cell is the neuron . These are specialized cells that can generate and receive signals. It is through these neurons that messages are passed back and forth.

What are the common diseases and conditions that affect the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)?

Unfortunately, there are several conditions and problems that can affect the autonomic nervous system, or parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). Some of them are:

• Type 2 Diabetes : If not properly controlled, Type 2 Diabetes can damage your autonomic nervous system, or parasympathetic division.
• Congenital and genetic conditions: These are diseases or conditions that you are born with. Some genetic conditions are inherited from your parents. For example, hereditary diseases like amyloidosis can cause problems with the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Incontinence: These conditions can occur when the parasympathetic nervous system, especially the nerves that control the bladder and bowels, is damaged.
• Multiple System Atrophy: This is a condition similar to Parkinson's disease , but more severe. Over time, it damages the autonomic nerves.
• Sexual dysfunction: Erectile dysfunction can be seen among those with damage to the parasympathetic nervous system, especially in men.
• Trauma: Nerve damage caused by injuries to the body can be long-term, sometimes permanent. Especially damage to the spinal cord or major nerve structures can impair or completely destroy parasympathetic connections.

What are the symptoms of problems with the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)?

Since the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) controls processes that should happen automatically, it is usually only when something does not happen as expected that we realize there is a problem. Here are some of the symptoms that may occur:

• Constipation.
• Increased heart rate even at rest (Tachycardia).
• Heart rhythm irregularities (Arrhythmias), such as atrial fibrillation .
• Sexual dysfunction.
• Digestive problems, such as gastroparesis, which causes symptoms such as bloating and nausea.

What tests are performed to check the function of the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)?

Doctors use various tests to see if this system is working properly. Some of them include:

• Blood tests: These can detect many things, such as immune system problems, hormone levels, and neurotransmitter levels in the blood.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG): This measures the electrical activity of the heart.
• Genetic testing: This helps to check for certain genetic diseases.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This can take detailed pictures of the brain, spinal cord, and other nervous structures.
• Sweat testing: This checks how much you sweat and whether there are areas on your body that don't sweat properly.

What are the treatments for parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) disorders?

In fact, treating diseases that affect the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) can be a bit challenging. Because the treatment methods can vary greatly depending on the cause of the disease. Sometimes it can be controlled with medication, other times it may require surgery.

The important thing is that sometimes treating a problem with this system requires treating or controlling the underlying condition. However, some conditions cannot be cured. In such cases, the goal of treatment is to control symptoms and minimize the impact on life.

How can these parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)-related problems be prevented?

"Prevention is better than cure," they say. That also applies to protecting the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). Here are some of the best things you can do to keep this system healthy:

• Eat a balanced diet: Vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin B12, can damage the nervous system. Also, taking too much of some vitamins (especially vitamin B6) can have toxic effects on the nervous system. Therefore, it is very important to eat a balanced diet .
• Avoiding drug and alcohol use: Drug and excessive alcohol consumption can poison and damage the nervous system.
• Stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight: Type 2 diabetes is a disease that damages the autonomic nerves over time. Therefore, preventing or delaying its development can make a big difference to your overall well-being.
• Wear protective equipment when necessary: ​​Whether you're working or playing sports, using protective equipment can be a great help in preventing nerve damage from accidents.
• Manage chronic conditions as recommended: If you have a chronic condition that can damage your nervous system, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, following your doctor's instructions to manage it will go a long way in limiting the impact the condition has on your life.

In summary,

Your parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is a vital part of your body's long-term survival . This system is constantly at work, whether you're awake or asleep. It helps you "relax" during calm times, and it also maintains a balance with the body's emergency response system. Although the number of conditions that affect it is relatively low, it's important to remember that maintaining your parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is crucial to your overall health and well-being . So, adopting a healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do!