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hayden87

Dual Diagnosis

Dual Diagnosis

I have not made many taste observations among those tested. However I have made many observations regarding anxiety, depression and energy level.

At rest, sympathetic and parasympathetic activity should have close to a balance or one-to-one ratio. “Normal” includes individuals who are somewhat parasympathetic dominant or sympathetic dominant.

Those who have too much sympathetic activity in relationship to parasympathetic activity are on the road to decline of the parasympathetic system which is needed (among other rest and recovery tasks) to protect the heart. Low parasympathetic tone means low hrv and I see it with diabetics, pre-diabetics, hypertensives, alcoholics etc.

In regard to HRV, there can be too much of a good thing. Excess parasympathetic activity can result in syncope and fatigue. I have often heard complaints of anxiety and fatigue among those with more than normal HRV.

It is also important to look at how the autonomic nervous system is responding to challenges. Deep breathing is a parasympathetic challenge. Do the parasympathetics increase appropriately with deep breathing? A low response to deep breathing can be the first sign of autonomic decline, as the vagus nerve is the longest and fastest responding nerve in the system.

Valsava maneuver and standing are sympathetic challenges. There is something very interesting here. When individuals have an abnormal (or paradoxical) parasympathetic surge during a sympathetic challenge, you will often see a patient with depression; sleep disorders, bipolar, adhd etc.

Many drugs affect the ANS. Most commonly are beta blocker for reducing sympathetic tone, anti-cholinergics for increasing parasympathetic tone and starbucks for increasing sympathetic tone. Drugs that will directly increase parasympathetic tone are not safe for chronic use so you will have to diet and exercise to accomplish that.

I will look forward to checking back in to view this blog. Healthy living!