Imagine that something scary suddenly happened to you. It's like a car suddenly approaching you while you're crossing the road. At that time, your heart beats faster, your body shakes, and you sweat, right? But after a while, you return to normal. Have you ever wondered who calms you down like this, who brings you back to normal? Today we're going to talk about that wonderful mechanism in your body that calms you down, the Parasympathetic Nervous System.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)?
Simply put, the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is the part of your body that calms you down and puts you in a relaxed state. The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves in our body. It controls our movements and processes. The PSNS, which is part of this nervous system, helps keep things like your heart rate, breathing, and digestion normal.
This PSNS is part of our Autonomic Nervous System. 'Autonomic' refers to the system that controls things that happen automatically, without our conscious control. For example, this system controls things like feeling hungry or feeling scared in case of danger. This autonomic system has three main parts:
1. Sympathetic Nervous System: This is what prepares us for an emergency.
2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS): This is what calms us down.
3. Enteric Nervous System: This is related to our digestive system.
"Rest and Digest" versus "Fight or Flight"
You've probably heard the phrase "fight or flight." This refers to the way our bodies prepare to fight or run away from a dangerous, stressful situation. Imagine you're walking down a forest path and suddenly see a snake. Your body shakes, your heart beats faster, and your eyes widen. All of this is done by the sympathetic nervous system . It's to prepare you for danger.
But once the danger is over, how do you calm down again? That's where our protagonist, the PSNS, comes in. While the sympathetic system acts like the body's "accelerator," the PSNS acts like the "brake." It slows down the body's activity and brings you back to a normal, relaxed state.
These two systems work in complete opposition to each other, but in balance. Without the PSNS, we would be in a state of constant hyperactivity, constantly agitated over the smallest things. The PSNS controls the "rest and digest" functions of our body.
What does PSNS do to our body?
PSNS mainly calms the body, conserves energy, and restores it. It is related to the various functions of our internal organs. Let's see what mainly happens.
| Body part | The function of PSNS |
|---|---|
| Heart | A heart rate that has accelerated due to fear or exercise gradually returns to normal. |
| Lungs | It slows down breathing and controls secretions like mucus in the respiratory tract. (However, this can sometimes have adverse effects on people with conditions like asthma). |
| Digestive system | It helps with digestion. It helps move food along by causing the muscles in the intestines to contract. It is also involved in bowel movements and urination. |
| Eyes | The iris of the eye makes the pupil smaller, helping us see things up close clearly. It also helps the eyes produce tears. |
| Sexual activity | Affects sexual arousal. It is also involved in the production of erections in men and lubrication in women. |
The main nerves involved in this system
There are 12 pairs of nerves called "Cranial Nerves" that connect to our brain. Four of these belong to the PSNS system.
- Oculomotor nerve (CN III): This helps move the eyes and control the size of the pupil .
- Facial nerve (CN VII): This is involved in the muscles that control facial expressions , saliva production, and taste.
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX): This also helps with saliva production, taste, swallowing, and blood pressure control.
- Vagus nerve (CN X): This is the superstar of the PSNS! 75% of the nerve fibers in the PSNS are in the Vagus nerve. This is the longest of our cranial nerves. It runs from the brain to the digestive system. This nerve helps control our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, immune system, and even mood. Because of this brain-gut connection, methods of stimulating this nerve are now used to treat conditions like depression and PTSD.
Symptoms that indicate a malfunction in the PSNS system
If your PSNS system is not working properly, there are some symptoms that you may experience. Be aware of these.
- Psychological conditions such as frequent anxiety, panic attacks, or PTSD.
- Digestive system diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
- Asthma and excess mucus in the nose.
- Palpitations or irregular heartbeat even when resting.
- Problems such as erectile dysfunction.
What are the medical conditions that affect the PSNS system?
Some medical conditions can directly affect the functioning of this system.
Nerve or brain trauma
If you have an accident that injures your spinal cord or head, your nervous system can be damaged. If you have a head injury or a severe back injury, it is essential to go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) as soon as possible and see a neurologist for advice.
Autonomic neuropathy
This can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, but it is most commonly seen as a result of nerve damage caused by Type 2 Diabetes. Symptoms may include a drop in blood pressure when standing, and digestive problems (bloating, constipation, diarrhea).
Multiple system atrophy
This is a brain disorder that shows symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. Initially, movement problems occur, and then the "automatic" bodily processes associated with the PSNS begin to fail.
If you feel like you're having trouble controlling your heart rate, body temperature, or blood pressure , see your doctor immediately. Don't ignore these "warning" signals from your body.
How do we keep this PSNS system healthy?
It is our responsibility to keep such an important system healthy. Try incorporating these simple lifestyle habits into your day.
- Eat a well-balanced diet, especially one that includes vitamin B12. It's also not good to take too much of some vitamins.
- Get a good night's sleep. The PSNS is most active when you are sleeping.
- Exercise. But don't forget to do a warm-up before you start and a cool-down after you finish. That way, your heart rate won't suddenly increase or decrease.
- Reduce stress. Things like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises can help a lot.
- Stay away from things like alcohol and drugs. Although they provide temporary solutions to anxiety, they damage the nervous system in the long run.
- Protect yourself from accidents. Avoid dangerous activities that can damage your nerves.
- Be careful about diabetes. Get tested regularly for diabetes. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes can severely damage the nerves.
If you have any medical conditions or experience the symptoms mentioned here, talk to your doctor for more information and guidance on how this complex nervous system may affect your condition.
Take-Home Message
- The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is the system that calms your body after the "fight or flight" response.
- This system controls processes related to "rest and digest," such as digestion and heart rate control.
- The vagus nerve is the largest and most important part of the PSNS system.
- This system can be kept healthy by eating a good diet, getting enough sleep, exercising, and reducing stress.
- If you have symptoms like irregular heartbeat or digestive problems, talk to your doctor about it.
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