Does a dysregulated nervous system affect your gut?
What is your nervous system?
Your nervous system is the major regulatory system of the body that is the center of all mental activity, including thoughts, learning, and memory. Think of this as the command center of your entire body.
If we break down a bit further, we should actually call this your nervous system(s) because there are many in your body that work together… or at least try to.
The major functions of your nervous system include:
Sensory: to monitor your environment and gather information
Integrative: the conversion of sensory information to nerve impulses that are sent to the brain
Motor: the response from your body
Because of these functions, your nervous systems impact every organ and function in your body, and work alongside the endocrine system (aka your hormones).
So, what actually makes up these systems?
Your central nervous system (CNS) is the major system and truly the command center. It includes the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for receiving and sending messages.
Your peripheral nervous system includes the nerves that branch out throughout the body and is responsible for relaying information to the brain and to the body to then cause a response.
The peripheral nervous system then breaks down into two other systems:
Somatic nervous system, which guides voluntary movements
Autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary activities
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Where does gut function come in?
Your autonomic nervous system works in one of two states, the sympathetic state or parasympathetic state. Think of this like a light switch: if one is turned on, the other is turned off.
The sympathetic state is also called the “stress state” and it is responsible for activating the body's "fight or flight" response due to a perceived threat or stressor. When it is activated, this leads to physiological changes in the body to prepare it for action. This includes:
Increased heart rate
Dilated pupils
Bronchodilation (widening of airways)
Increased blood pressure
Increased blood sugar levels
Increased sweating
Decreased digestive activity, including movement of the gut muscles and overall digestive function
Enhanced mental alertness
On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system state is called the “rest and digest state” and it induces a state of relaxation and recovery. This also leads to physiological changes, including:
Slowed heart rate
Constricted pupils
Constricted airways
Decreased blood pressure
Increased digestive activity, including the secretion of digestive enzymes, increasing intestinal motility, and enhancing nutrient absorption
Normalized blood sugar levels
Relaxation and calmness
Improved sleep and tissue repair
What’s the goal?
The goal isn’t to avoid a sympathetic nervous system state at all cost, but to regulate the body to be in a parasympathetic state as much as possible. When the body is in a prolonged stressed state, this can impact the function of the gut and lead to more symptoms, especially for those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The enteric nervous system
If that all wasn’t complex enough, there is another nervous system that’s especially important for digestive health, and that’s the enteric nervous system (ENS). This is is a complex network of neurons, like the CNS, that is primarily located within the walls of your gut. It functions independently of the CNS and the autonomic nervous system, but can also communicate with them.
Overall, the ENS is crucial for the regulation and coordination of gastrointestinal function. It ensures the smooth functioning of digestion, absorption, and overall gut health.
The gut-brain communication pathway includes communication and coordination between the CNS and ENS. When this is dysregulated, as we see in those with IBS, this can impair the function of the ENS leading to more digestion symptoms.
Your nervous systems are complex and their impact on the gut goes far beyond nervous butterflies or stress poops. Nervous system regulation and support is key to managing symptoms and feeling your best.
Need help with this?
This is a major focus on the work we do with clients, both in our 1:1 program and through our MASTER Method Membership. If you’re interested in finding the program that’s best for you, you can start by scheduling a consult call here.
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