Vagus Nerve Dysfunction

Restoring Nervous System Balance Through Precise Upper Cervical Care

Understanding the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It controls many automatic functions, including:

-Digestion
-Heart rate
-Breathing patterns
-Swallowing
-Immune response
-Inflammation
-Stress recovery
-Voice and throat function

It is the primary nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system — known as the “rest and digest” system.
When the vagus nerve becomes irritated, compressed, or dysfunctional, the body can slip into a chronic fight-or-flight state, leading to widespread symptoms.

Common Symptoms of Vagus Nerve Dysfunction

People with vagus nerve dysfunction may experience:

-Digestive issues (bloating, nausea, slow stomach emptying, IBS-like symptoms)
-Heart rate irregularities or palpitations
-Feeling “wired but tired”
-Difficulty swallowing
-Voice changes or throat tightness
-Anxiety-like symptoms
-Dizziness or faintness
-Chest tightness
-Difficulty regulating temperature
-Chronic inflammation
-Fatigue and brain fog

These symptoms often seem unrelated — which leads many patients through endless specialist visits without clear answers.

The missing link for many?
Upper cervical spine alignment.

How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve begins in the brainstem — specifically in an area heavily influenced by the alignment of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae.
If these vertebrae shift out of position due to:

-Whiplash
-Concussions
-Falls
-Posture strain
-Stress
-Athletic injuries
-Previous trauma

…they can irritate or overstimulate the brainstem, altering normal vagus nerve function.

When the vagus nerve isn’t working properly, the parasympathetic system “shuts down,” leaving the body stuck in sympathetic overdrive, which can create or worsen conditions such as:

-POTS
-Anxiety
-IBS
-GERD
-Dysautonomia
-Migraines
-Chronic inflammation
-Fibromyalgia
-Sleep issues

Upper cervical dysfunction and vagus nerve dysfunction often go hand-in-hand.

Signs Your Vagus Nerve Issues May Be Coming From Your Neck

You may have an upper cervical component if you notice:

-Symptoms started after a neck injury
-You have neck stiffness or pain along with gut or heart symptoms
-You feel better lying down and worse when upright
-You experience dizziness with stress or position changes
-You struggle with breathing patterns or chest tightness
-Your digestive symptoms flare when your neck tightens
-You’ve been told your test results are “normal” but still feel terrible

These patterns strongly suggest brainstem involvement.

Why Traditional Treatments Often Miss the Root Cause

Common treatment recommendations include:

-Vagus nerve exercises (“vagal toning”)
-Deep breathing
-Meditation
-Dietary changes
-Medications for digestion or anxiety
-Physical therapy
-Electrolytes for autonomic symptoms
-Stress reduction techniques

While these strategies can be helpful, they often do not correct the neurological interference happening at the top of the spine.

If the upper neck remains irritated, the vagus nerve will continue to misfire.

Upper cervical chiropractic addresses the root mechanical and neurological cause rather than only managing symptoms.

How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Helps Vagus Nerve Dysfunction

At Atlas Specific Chiropractic, we use a highly detailed and scientific approach to understanding and correcting the upper cervical spine.

✔ Functional Neurological Scans (Tytron)
These show patterns of nerve irritation surrounding the brainstem that correlate with vagus nerve dysfunction.

✔ Precision 3-View X-Rays
We measure atlas/axis misalignment down to the 1/100th of a degree and millimeter to determine your exact correction pattern.

✔ Gentle, Targeted Correction (AHKC Technique)
Our upper cervical adjustment is:

-Specific
-Gentle
-Non-twisting
-Non-popping
-Designed to reduce irritation with precision

✔ Nervous System Stabilization
As the atlas realigns and pressure on the nervous system is reduced, many patients experience improvements in:

-Digestive function
-Heart rate regulation
-Breathing ease
-Stress tolerance
-Temperature regulation
-Inflammation
-Energy levels
-Mental clarity

The vagus nerve functions best when the upper neck is stable and communication between the brain and body is restored.

A Calmer, More Regulated Nervous System Starts at the Top

If you’re dealing with vagus nerve dysfunction and feel frustrated or dismissed, you’re not alone.

Many of our patients come to us after visiting multiple specialists with no clear answers — only to finally make progress once their brainstem and upper cervical spine were addressed.

At Atlas Specific Chiropractic in Hiawatha, IA, we help patients throughout the Cedar Rapids area improve vagus nerve function naturally by correcting the source of autonomic imbalance.

📞 Call (319) 343-8540 or schedule your first visit today to start the path toward a calmer, more regulated nervous system..