Could My Vagus Nerve Be Damaged?
A Damaged Vagus Nerve Can't Send Signals Normally to Your Stomach Muscles. This May Cause Food to Remain in Your Stomach Longer, Rather Than Move into Your...
A damaged vagus nerve can't send signals normally to your stomach muscles. This may cause food to remain in your stomach longer, rather than move into your small intestine to be digested. The vagus nerve and its branches can be damaged by diseases, such as diabetes, or by surgery to the stomach or small intestine.
What are the symptoms of vagus nerve damage?
- difficulty speaking or loss of voice.
- a voice that is hoarse or wheezy.
- trouble drinking liquids.
- loss of the gag reflex.
- pain in the ear.
- unusual heart rate.
- abnormal blood pressure.
- decreased production of stomach acid.
Can a damaged vagus nerve be fixed?
If the vagus nerve is damaged, nausea, bloating, diarrhea and gastroparesis (in which the stomach empties too slowly) may result. Unfortunately, diabetic neuropathy cannot be reversed, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.
