Have you suffered a whiplash injury within the last three months? Or do you suffer from migraines or severe headaches? If so, you may be experiencing vagus nerve damage.
Vagus nerve problems can cause you all sorts of health problems. But why do these nerve problems occur? What causes vagus nerve damage?
Luckily, we’ve researched, so you don’t have to. Keep reading below to learn some of the most common nerve damage causes.
What Causes Vagus Nerve Damage: Infections
The vagus nerve is responsible for the involuntary movement of the stomach and intestines. It also regulates heart rate and blood pressure.
Damage to the vagus nerve can be caused by infections, such as influenza, that attack the nervous system. This damage can also be caused by surgery that removes part of the stomach or by certain medications, such as those used to treat cancer.
Trauma to the Neck or Head
The vagus nerve can be damaged by trauma to the neck or head. This can occur due to a car accident, a fall, or even a blow to the head.
The damage to the nerve can cause paralysis of the vocal cords, difficulty swallowing, and a loss of the ability to speak. In some cases, the damage to the vagus nerve can be so severe that it can lead to death.
Autoimmune Diseases
There are a number of autoimmune diseases that can damage the vagus nerve. These include lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Tumors Compressing the Vagus Nerve
It can cause damage to the vagus nerve by growing into or compressing the nerve. Tumors commonly cause vagus nerve damage include: acoustic neuromas, brainstem tumors, paragangliomas, glomus jugulare tumors, and carotid body tumors.
Treatment for vagus nerve damage depends on the underlying cause. Sometimes, the damage is irreversible, and the patient must learn to live with the resulting deficits. In other cases, surgery may be able to remove the tumor and alleviate the damage to the vagus nerve.
Surgery
Vagus nerve damage is most commonly caused by surgery. During surgery, the vagus nerve can be easily damaged when the surgeon works on another nearby structure.
This damage can occur when the surgeon is removing the gallbladder, for example. In some cases, the damage may be temporary and heal independently. However, in other cases, the damage may be permanent.
Treatments for Vagus Nerve Damage
There are a few different treatments for vagus nerve damage, depending on the underlying cause. If the damage is caused by physical trauma, treatment may involve resting the neck and head or wearing a neck brace.
In some cases, a vagus nerve stimulator may be used to help reduce symptoms. The effectiveness of Vagus Nerve Stimulation has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Moreover, These vagus nerve stimulator reviews can help you see how effective the Nerve Stimulator is.
What Causes Vagus Nerve Damage and How to Avoid It
When the vagus nerve is damaged, it can cause problems with any of these functions. The most common cause of vagus nerve damage is surgery, specifically thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy. Other causes include trauma, infections, tumors, and diabetes.
The best way to avoid vagus nerve damage is to avoid surgery and other trauma to the neck and chest area. If you have diabetes, keep it under control to help prevent damage to the nerve.
For more health tips and informative articles, revisit this site for more ideas on maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle.
