Healthy Families Made Easy With Dr. Jason Jones

Lowering Stress for Optimum Health Part 2: What is Vagal Tone? Dr. Jason Jones Elizabeth City NC, Chiropractor The vagus nerve is simply described as the longest nerve in the body which originates as cranial nerve 10 in the brain. It travels down from the brain to the neck and then passes around important organs throughout the body, including the digestive system, pancreas, liver, spleen, lungs, and heart. The vagus nerve is a key part of your parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the “rest and digest” function, countering the “fight or flight” function of the sympathetic nervous system. The vagus nerve influences many functions in the body, including digestion, breathing, and heart rate, all of which impact your overall health. However, one thing you need to pay special attention to is the “tone” of your vagus nerve. The vagal tone is an internal biological process that determines the activities of the vagus nerve. What is vagal tone? The vagal tone is key to the activity of your parasympathetic ner