Parasympathetic vs Sympathetic Nervous System (2024)

FAQs

Parasympathetic vs Sympathetic Nervous System? ›

What's the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems? Your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have opposite roles. While your sympathetic nervous system carries signals that put your body's systems on alert, your parasympathetic carries signals that relax those systems.

Your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have opposite but complementary roles. Your sympathetic nervous system carries signals that put your body's systems on alert, and your parasympathetic carries signals that return those systems to their standard activity levels.

One way to remember how to distinguish between the two is to associate the beginning letters of the words with their corresponding attributes. The sympathetic nervous system kicks in during times of stress, and the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in during times of peace.

There are many ways to practice using your parasympathetic nervous system. These include mild exercise, meditation, yoga, deep breathing from your diaphragm, even nature walks. For some people, traditional meditation isn't their thing. It's about finding your body's way of meditating, what helps you to decompress.

Anxious thoughts, demanding workloads, lack of sleep, and even hidden factors like food sensitivities can sustain the activation of this stress pathway. In turn, your parasympathetic “rest, digest, and regulate” system struggles to function properly to calm your body and mind.

The vagus nerve, also known as the vagal nerves, are the main nerves of your parasympathetic nervous system. This system controls specific body functions such as your digestion, heart rate and immune system. These functions are involuntary, meaning you can't consciously control them.

Positive emotions also result in altered autonomic nervous system activity, characterized by increased parasympathetic nervous system activity, whereas negative emotions (e.g., anger) result in parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activity (McCraty, Atkinson, Tiller, Rein, & Watkins, 1995).

A quick way to reset your nervous system in 30 seconds is by performing a physiological sigh. This involves taking a deep breath in through your nose, followed by a smaller breath in, and then a long exhale through your mouth. This technique helps to rapidly reduce stress and bring about a sense of calm.

How to calm the vagus nerve? ›

Just a few minutes of deep breathing can keep your vagus nerve active. Meditate. Meditation activates the vagus nerve and calms the network of nerves that control myriad physiological processes. “Meditation and mindfulness not only lower your heart rate, but they also reduce blood pressure levels,” said Gonzales.

Chronic stress or anxiety can cause the body's “fight or flight” response to become constant – leading to an overactive nervous system. This can cause symptoms including: Physical symptoms, including weight gain, body aches and pains, chest pain, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, dizziness and weak immunity.

Several vitamins and other supplements, including Rhodiola rosea, melatonin, vitamin D, and ashwagandha, have been linked to reduced stress symptoms. L-theanine, B-complex vitamins, and magnesium may also help increase your body's resistance to life's stressors.

The sympathetic nervous system increases physiological arousal, while the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to a calmer and relaxed state.

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's rest and digestion response when the body is relaxed, resting, or feeding. It basically undoes the work of sympathetic division after a stressful situation. The parasympathetic nervous system decreases respiration and heart rate and increases digestion.

Salivation: As part of its rest-and-digest function, the PSNS stimulates production of saliva, which contains enzymes to help your food digest. Lacrimation: Lacrimation is a fancy word for making tears. Tears keep your eyes lubricated, preserving their delicate tissues.

i. Heart: Sympathetic nervous system accelerates the heartbeat whereas the parasympathetic nervous system decelerates the heartbeat. ii. Urinary bladder: Sympathetic nervous system inhibits bladder contraction whereas the parasympathetic nervous system stimulates bladder contraction.