Long Covid Recovery Technique | The Diaphragmatic Vagal Repair Method (DVR-M) Explained (Part I) скачать в хорошем качестве

Long Covid Recovery Technique | The Diaphragmatic Vagal Repair Method (DVR-M) Explained (Part I)

Based on her personal long Covid recovery, extensive work with long Covid patients, and expertise in mind-body medicine, Shannon McLain Sims, PhD, developed a 2-step somatic breathwork practice to recondition the diaphragm and re-balance the nervous system following a COVID-19 infection. With the combination of intentional breathing and localized healing touch, the Diaphragmatic Vagal Repair Method (DVR-M) is designed to ignite vagal stimulation and increase vagal tone to help individuals better manage the numerous and persistent long Covid symptoms. How it Works: Long Covid can be a disabling condition that impacts 7.5-15% of people after a COVID-19 infection (Greenhalgh et al., 2022). While there is not yet a universal definition for long Covid, also referred to as post-COVID syndrome, it is generally categorized by worsening and/or new symptoms that persist for more than four weeks following a COVID-19 infection (Sampogna et al., 2022). One circulating theory for the cause of long Covid symptoms is vagus nerve dysfunction, which could explain some of the prolonged symptoms, including dyspnea, cognitive dysfunction (e.g., memory issues and “brain fog”), dizziness, tachycardia (elevated heart rate), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure). Somatic breathwork allows the mind and body to connect intentionally with the experience of breathing. Research shows that COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (Dani et al., 2021; Dotan et al., 2022), causing an imbalance among many of the body’s systems, including the cardiovascular system. A key player in the ANS is the vagus nerve, which helps the body handle stress and maintains balance among all the body’s systems. The vagus nerve helps to regulate the ANS, but this function is thrown out of balance during a COVID-19 infection (Rangon & Niezgoda, 2022). One study found that 27% of participants had an inflamed or thickened vagus nerve after COVID-19 (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2022). When the ANS is out of balance, the body is stuck in a constant “fight or flight” stress response, which leads to elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, lower immune system functioning, increased anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and memory issues (to name a few!). The vagus nerve is the 10th cranial nerve that originates at the base of the brain, wanders through the abdominal cavity, and connects to the diaphragm (the balloon-like muscle attached to the lungs). The movement of the diaphragm that comes from deep breathing helps to stimulate the vagus nerve, which sends an immediate signal to the brain, telling the body to override the stress response and bring about relaxation. This relaxation response helps to balance the nervous system and restore homeostasis in the body. Improved vagal tone, or vagal activity (achieved through vagal stimulation), is the primary driver for re-balancing and calming the overactive nervous system. Many people with long Covid report difficulty with breathing, which can lead to many issues such as poor oxygen saturation, anxiety, post-exertional malaise, deep fatigue, elevated heart rate, and high blood pressure. According to recent studies, there are some of the primary post-COVID symptoms (Bourmistrova et al., 2022; Rudroff et al., 2022; Sampogna et al., 2022; Tang et al., 2022), all of which are functions mediated by the ANS and the vagus nerve. One way to immediately tap into the ANS is by stimulating the vagus nerve through breathing deeply into the lungs. Research is beginning to emerge suggesting that stimulating the vagus nerve and enhancing vagal tone can be one potential treatment pathway for long Covid recovery (Badran et al., 2022; Basharat & Mahood, 2022; Mastitskaya et al., 2021). Due to word restraints, for a full list of references, contact shannon@ailahealth.com #longcovid #longcovidrecovery #covid19 #covid #covid_19 #meditation #mindfulness #mindfulnessmeditation #breathwork #selfcare #ailahealth #mindbodymedicine