Behind the Scenes of Your Body

How weird would it be if you had to tell yourself to breathe, pump blood or digest food? Our entire thought process would be consumed by these lifesaving events that go on in our body. But instead we have the ability to filter blood, digest food, breathe air, pump blood, repair damaged cells, and a variety of other necessary functions of the body and we do it without even thinking about it.

One of the major reasons why we can perform these lifesaving functions is because of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is actually a part of the peripheral nervous system, but is charged mainly with the duty of controlling our subconscious bodily actions like heart rate, digestion, salivation and pupil dilation. The ANS works with our brain (mainly the pons, medulla, and hypothalamus) below our level of consciousness where we do our reflexive actions. The sensory impulses between the brain and ANS are why don’t actually walk around saying, “Time to digest lunch.”

The ANS is actually made up of two parts: the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system works to rest and repair the body as well as maintain proper digestion and pupil dilation. The parasympathetic nervous system plays a critical role in our body’s ability to return to a resting state so we can recover from any stress or strain.

The sympathetic nervous system is charged with activating our fight-flight reflex, which is necessary for survival. The sympathetic nervous system activates the thyroid and adrenal glands to provide the body with more energy in times of threat or fear. It also directs more blood flow to our muscles and brain, and decreases blood flow to our digestive system and non-essential organs.

While it may appear that the parasympathetic nervous system is “better” for our health than the sympathetic nervous system, it should be noted that the two are not antagonistic to each other. Instead, they are a complementary team when allowed to be. It’s a check and balance system—one heals the body and the other protects the body.

The problem is, when we live in a world of constant stress, strain and threats, it is hard for the parasympathetic nervous system to activate in order to heal our body. It’s important to utilize your relaxation techniques, like yoga, breathing, hot baths and visualization. You can also invest in your health by getting a massage or acupuncture, exercising and taking time away from your busy work schedule through regularly scheduled vacation. All of these activities work to allow the parasympathetic nervous system to activate and keep your body strong and healthy.