sympathetic nervous system

More Breathing in Less Time

 

Greetings,

This week’s 411 is brought to you by espresso, curiosity, my appreciation for your readership, and espresso. Enjoy!

 
 
 
 

4 THOUGHTS

1. Use Breathing Instead of Thinking

"Social psychologists now know that the truth lies in the opposite direction. People need to change their actions and their minds will follow." – Sean D Young, Stick With It

Experts tell us it’s hard to think our way out of thinking. We need to act and let the mind follow. I believe this is what makes breathing so powerful. It gives you an action you can perform anytime to trick your mind into following.

If you’re anxious, you can breathe slowly, which will calm your nervous system and lead to calmer thoughts. If you’re tired, you can breathe rapidly and stimulate your nervous system, increasing your heart rate and alertness.

There are many ways to use actions to control your emotions and thoughts. But breathing is free and easy. Stop thinking, begin breathing.

2. Post-Meal Breathing for Better Blood Sugars & Digestion

Relaxing breathing methods have been shown to reduce blood sugar spikes associated with meals and glucose tolerance tests. In Breath (pg 43), James Nestor also tells us that right nostril breathing heats up the body and aids in digestion. Together, it seems like a post-meal breathing practice might be a good idea.

I have been testing this in a simple and practical way. Specifically, I’ve been spending ~3 to 5 minutes performing either alternate nostril or diaphragmatic breathing (or their combination) after lunch.

The results have been quite noticeable. My sugars are much better (and even get low sometimes) in the hour following the meal. And these short minutes are especially helpful midday to focus my mind and get me back to work quickly.

Science + Practicality = Better Living

Even if you don’t have diabetes, adding this tiny habit after eating might help with digestion and improve energy levels. Not bad for just a few minutes.

3. More Breathing in Less Time

Brian Johnson is my favorite teacher. Long-time readers are probably sick of me talking about him : ) His motto: More wisdom in less time. In that spirit, here are a few excellent summaries Brian has made of some of the best breathing books:

Enjoy!

Thanks to new 411 reader W.G. for inspiring this thought.

4. The Best Advice You Can Give Someone Interested in Breathing

"Start now. Optimize later. Imperfect starts can always be improved." - James Clear

The Oxygen Advantage, Wim Hof, The Art of Breath, Buteyko, Breatheology, SKY, ujjayi, and on and on. They are all phenomenal for different reasons.

But the most important thing is to choose one and start—experience for yourself how simple and powerful these practices are. You can optimize later.

 
 
 
 

1 QUOTE

In my own experience, a deep breath is always a good first reaction to a first report. Try to let the potato cool a bit before you pick it up.

— General Colin Powell, It Worked For Me

 
 
 
 

1 ANSWER

Answer: This "nasal nerve" is the first one emerging from the brain.

…

(Cue the Jeopardy! music.)

…

Question: What is the olfactory nerve?

In good breath,
Nick

P.S. Preach

 
 

The Breathing 4.1.1. - Slow or Control? (+ Seneca on Walking & Breathing)

 

Happy Monday to you! Welcome to a new edition of The Breathing 4.1.1.

Below you’ll find 4 thoughts, 1 quote, and 1 answer (think "Jeopardy"). Enjoy!

 
 
 
 

4 THOUGHTS

1. Breath Rate or Breath Control: Which is More Important?

Last week, we talked about a powerful evolutionary advantage: Rather than evolving to breathe slowly, we evolved the ability to control our breathing.

We know slow, controlled breathing is beneficial, but what about just the controlled aspect itself?

A study published in 2017 examined this by having participants perform controlled breathing at 12 breaths per minute. This rate is on the low end of average for spontaneous breathing.

They found that this practice reduced sympathetic activity. There was something about the act of consciously controlling the breath that helped promote autonomic balance, despite the rather ordinary rate.

Slow breathing provides a host of additional benefits. But let us not forget the power of simply controlling your body’s most important function: breathing.

2. While We’re on the Subject: Slow Breathing Restores Balance in COPD

People with COPD have similar complications to diabetics, such as increased sympathetic tone and reduced baroreflex sensitivity (BRS).

A study published in 2008 found that slow breathing at 6 breaths per minute for 4 minutes significantly reduced sympathetic activity and increased BRS in COPD patients. That is, it helped restore cardio-autonomic balance. 

Their words are always better than mine:

“In summary, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed sympathetic excitation and depression of the baroreflex. Slow breathing counteracted these changes.” - Raupach et al.

3. Another Non-Breathing Tip: I Take This Every Morning

To build off of my #1 non-breathing tip (2-4 hours between dinner and bedtime), here’s another one I use every day: baking soda.

Baking soda has been shown to improve performance and even help with autoimmune conditions. From a breathing perspective, it has also been shown to increase breath-hold time (something I have anecdotally experienced).

Here’s how I take it every morning:

  • 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

  • Mix and "enjoy"

It sounds disgusting, but it’s actually not too bad. Apple cider vinegar might also help control blood sugars, so that’s an added bonus for us diabetics.

4. A Race for the Future

"Looking at the evidence, it’s hard not to conclude that our entire physiology was engineered to reward us for moving." - Kelly McGonigal, The Joy of Movement

I love Physiology First, its mission, and the people behind it. On August 15, they are holding a run/walk to collectively cover 1,000 miles. You can join virtually anywhere (my wife and I will be joining from here on the Space Coast of Florida).

It’s been a while since my 100-mile ruck, so this is a great reason to get out and move for a good cause. Every mile helps, and there is no minimum. I hope to "e-see" you there!

More Details:

A RACE FOR THE FUTURE
(We’re signing up for the "1000 Miler")

 
 
 
 

1 QUOTE

Speaking of walking and breathing:

“We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing.” —Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind

(I found this quote in Ryan Holiday’s Newsletter.)

 
 
 
 

1 ANSWER

Answer: The number of oxygen molecules in each red blood cell.

…

(Cue the Jeopardy music.)

…

Question: What is 1 billion?

In good breath,
Nick

P.S. Keeping Cool During COVID.

 
 

Lack of Oxygen Might be the Root Cause of Diabetic Complications

 
 

Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.” - Blaise Pascal

 
 
 
 

People with diabetes are at an increased risk of cardiovascular and autonomic problems. Diabetics also display altered respiratory control, for example, showing depressed (or enhanced) chemoreflexes.

However, previous studies have never examined these two aspects in an integrated fashion.

Integration Over Isolation

The problem with separately studying these systems is that the results might not be independent. For example, if a study shows that diabetics have decreased respiratory control, it might conclude that this is from diabetic nerve damage.

Likewise, if a study shows that cardiovascular function is depressed, it might also conclude that this is due to diabetic nerve damage.

However, if we study them together, we might find that there is a reciprocal relationship. Maybe the respiratory problems are causing cardiovascular issues? Perhaps it’s the other way around?

This study takes that approach and has some pretty remarkable conclusions.

Integrated cardiovascular/respiratory control in type 1 diabetes evidences functional imbalance: Possible role of hypoxia

(Click Here to Read Full Summary — I don’t say this often, but please read this one if you have diabetes)

Published in the International Journal of Cardiology, 2017.

In forty-six type-1 diabetics and 103 age-matched controls, they measured baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) as a marker of cardiovascular function and chemoreflexes as a marker of respiratory control.

Chemoreflexes estimate how sensitive you are to increasing CO2 (hypercapnic chemoreflex) and decreasing O2 (hypoxic chemoreflex).

The Hypothesis: If BRS and chemoreflexes are reduced, this would suggest diabetic nerve damage. However, if some are reduced while others are elevated, this reciprocal relationship might be showing autonomic dysfunction instead of diabetic nerve damage.

This is such an important distinction. “Damage” implies that the damage is done. “Dysfunction” implies that we could make it functional again.

Diabetics Have Worsened Cardiovascular and Respiratory Control

The results showed that subjects with diabetes had a lower BRS than the controls. They also had a suppressed hypoxic chemoreflex. However, they had an elevated hypercapnic chemoreflex. (Remember their hypothesis: if it was nerve damage, both of these chemoreflexes would be reduced.)

Interestingly, the diabetics also showed a lower oxygen saturation. And, they also had relatively high HbA1c’s (an average of 8.19%). A high HbA1c will decrease oxygen delivery to the tissues and cells.

Tissue Hypoxia is at the Root of Diabetic Complications

The reduced oxygen saturation and high HbA1c suggest a resting state of tissue hypoxia in diabetes. Over time, we become “numb” to this, which explains the decreased hypoxic chemoreflex.

The body compensates with an up-regulated hypercapnic chemoreflex, which leads to chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight).  Chronic sympathetic activation then suppresses our cardiovascular control.

It’s a vicious cycle with negative long-term implications:


 
 
Root_of_Complications_Cycle.png
 
 

Dysfunction, not Damage: A Silver Lining

“We show in the present study that what is normally called ‘autonomic neuropathy’ could be in many cases a functional condition of sympathetic activation, driven by many factors, one of which seems to be resting hypoxia.”


This is all actually good news.  Their results suggest that diabetic autonomic imbalance is mainly functional and not related to nerve damage.  In fact, the authors suggest that this imbalance likely leads to nerve damage, rather than being the result of it. Therefore, therapies targeting cardio-respiratory control could help reverse/prevent diabetic complications if caught early enough.

Break Out Your Slow Breathing Hammer

What are these therapies? One is slow breathing. Slow breathing will immediately improve cardiovascular and respiratory reflexes. It will also enhance oxygenation (when breathing through the nose).

I hate sounding like all I have is a “slow breathing hammer,” but it is just too important not to stress over and over again.

Here’s to taking the first step toward protecting our long-term health as diabetics.

In good breath,
Nick

P.S. A great podcast was recently released with James Nestor, author of the soon-to-be-released book: “Breath - The New Science of a Lost Art”. (The book looks terrific, so I pre-ordered my copy about a week ago.)

You can basically learn everything you’ll ever need to know about breathing in this quick 35-minute interview. I loved it.

Listen to the podcast here.

 
 

Heart Rate Variability, Stress Response, and PTSD

low_vagal_tone_may_account.png

In post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physiological arousal is increased when a person is reminded of their traumatic experience.  This is somewhat unsurprising. 

An over activated sympathetic nervous system almost certainly plays a role in this. However, under activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, or “low vagal tone,” might be equally important. 

The goal of the paper I’m sharing this week was to examine these two components and determine which might be responsible for the enhanced stress response in PTSD.

As with most things, the answer is likely “they both matter.” But here is what they found.

Low Heart Rate Variability Linked to Enhanced Stress Response

(Read the Full Summary Here)

They measured high-frequency heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker of parasympathetic tone. Then, the participants were read a trauma script and their physiological response was recorded.

Results showed that patients with a higher baseline HRV did not experience as much stress.  The subjects with lower HRV showed a higher heart rate peak, followed by a slower deceleration of heart rate.  That is, they showed an elevated stress response.

The patients with lower baseline HRV also had longer half-recovery times, meaning that their stress response was not only elevated, but also prolonged. 

These findings suggest that low parasympathetic tone, rather than just increased sympathetic activity, might help explain the increased physiological stress response in PTSD.

Two Takeaways

  1. HRV measurements might provide insight into the severity of a person’s PTSD and predict how well they respond to stress.

  2. Slow breathing is one of the easiest ways to improve HRV, both immediately and long term.

If HRV predicts the stress response, and HRV can be increased via breathing exercises, it is conceivable that breathing practices could improve stress resiliency in PTSD.  (In fact, a 2013 study found that a yoga breathing program significantly improves PTSD symptoms in Australian Vietnam veterans.)

Finally (and importantly), these takeaways might be applicable to conditions other than PTSD, such as anxiety disorder, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

In good breath,
Nick