The vagus nerve is a long wandering nerve that stems from the brain and is responsible for connecting it to the body's vital organs. It can have a significant impact on mental health, affecting mood, anxiety levels, and depression.
Will Ahmed, the CEO of WHOOP, explains the importance of heart rate variability (HRV), a key indicator of overall health and wellness that can be affected by factors such as exercise, stress, and sleep. WHOOP uses HRV to help users optimize their training and recovery, as well as provide insights into their overall health.
Understanding the mechanical and chemical aspects of breathing helps reduce stress efficiently by recognizing the importance of breathing optimally and not over-breathing. The physiological psi pattern of breathing is the most efficient way to reduce stress in real-time.
Diaphragmatic breathing can directly affect the signals that your brain receives and can help you manage stress better. A relaxed diaphragm can send calming signals to your brain while a tense one can cause panic signals.
Stimulating the vagus nerve through techniques like acupuncture can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and help calm an over-stressed body. The ancient practice of acupuncture may have stumbled upon nerve patterns that are accessible from the earlobe to activate the vagus nerve.
By controlling your breathing, you are utilizing your brain to control your brain, and different patterns of breathing can impact the overall state and response of the brain to certain stimuli. This understanding of the mechanical control of breathing can lead to better brain function.