Restoring The Balance Of The Autonomic Nervous System As An Innovative Approach To The Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

[RichGotsPots]

This is hands down one of the most interesting things about our illnesses that I have ever read. According to this, it is possible that autonomic dysfunction can actually prolong autoimmune illness! Obviously more research is needed but I like that someone if looking into it..

Restoring the Balance of the Autonomic Nervous System as an Innovative Approach to the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

"It has become apparent that the nervous system has multiple anatomical and physiological connections with the immune system. Through these pathways, the nervous and immune systems have extensive communications using neurotransmitters, cytokines and endocrine hormones (4). Consequently, the nervous system is able to detect and regulate inflammation in peripheral tissues and is involved in maintaining immune homeostasis."

"Subsequent electrical stimulation of the peripheral part of the vagus nerve significantly decreased serum TNF-α levels and prevented development of shock compared with vagotomized rats that did not receive electrical stimulation. This peripheral vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in the vagotomized animals was not followed by enhanced glucocorticoid production, indicating that the suppressed TNF-α production could not be attributed to activation of the HPA axis, but was achieved merely through the efferent vagus nerve"

"The autonomic dysfunction in RA patients is characterized by an increased overall sympathetic tone and decreased activity of the vagus nerve."

[Chaos]

Interesting Rich. Thanks for sharing.

Just saw another article today which was talking about people with Celiac (diagnosed by biopsy) have a much greater risk of developing autonomic dysfunction as well.

Definitely seems to show the links between neuro-endocrine-immune dysfunction occurring in many of these diseases.