Vagus nerve stimulation

Low vagus nerve activity is associated with a worse cancer prognosis. The vagus nerve is one of the twelve cranial nerves that extends throughout the human body (larynx, trachea, oesophagus, heart, lungs, stomach and abdominal organs) and performs a variety of important functions, such as stimulating the digestive system. It is also the most important nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system and helps calm your body after a stress response by slowing your heart rate and lowering your blood pressure.

The scientific understanding of how cancerous tumours and metastases are formed and develop has changed, and today a greater emphasis is placed on the immediate environment of the tumour cells within the body and the presence of a number of processes that make the prognosis worse. These processes are excessive inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and sympathetic neurotransmitters. The activity of the vagus nerve can change or counter these three processes.

Vagus nerve activity can be measured using the heart rate variability (HRV) that is recorded in an ECG (electrocardiogram). Various clinical studies have shown that a higher HRV is related to an improved prognosis (longer survival rates or lower tumour markers) for different types of cancer.

Vagus nerve stimulation could possibly bring a new treatment option to patients.