The weekend of Sept 24-25 I was in Toronto for a neurology course on the relationship between the nervous system, Gut, reproductive, and sexual systems. Now anyone who has studied chiropractic, medicine, or other health sciences should already have a basic knowledge of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system interactions with these organ systems. The autonomic nerves are highly influenced by what happens higher up in the brain stem and brain.
One of the main things I learned or re-learned is that as higher cortical areas (frontal lobes) stop working or start crashing then sympathetic nerves become dis-inhibited. Dis-inhibited means they are more active. The sympathetic nerves that we may recall from high school biology are involved with fight or flight type responses. But when they become active all the time then a whole load of problems can occur. The sympathetic nerves receive inputs from every organ of the body. The sympathetic nerves help control blood flow to all the extremities, organs, and the brain itself. High firing sympathetic nerves can also increase the firing of pain nerve endings and decrease the threshold of pain nerves.
What are some signs of high firing sympathetic nerves?
Increased heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Indigestion and constipation
Poor bladder voiding causing urine retention
Increased sweating, cold/sweaty hands etc.
What are some ways you can keep your frontal lobes and brainstem healthier? I will look into this more future blogs.
Your thoughts/comments.
