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Autonomic System
The Autonomic System
The Autonomic System
This autonomic system operates the body behind the scenes, subtly changing breathing, heart rate, and circulation to adjust the body’s limited resources to accommodate the current needs. This autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. The sympathetic system is basically the body’s accelerator. When there is a need to move, the sympathetics fire up and set he stage for rapid action. Some food and drinks, like coffee, act by chemically stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. The other side of the autonomic nervous system is called the parasympathetic nervous system. This is like the body’s break, slowing down the body’s movement protentional, and redirecting the body’s resources to accomplish rest, digestion, and repair. Some food and drink, like turkey dinner, stimulate the parasympathetic system, which is why after the big turkey dinner on Thanksgiving we sit on the couch and fall asleep. Both systems are critically important but must be maintained in balance for the body to be healthy. Of the two parts of the autonomic system, the sympathetic always take precedence. In other words, if there is a need for body to suddenly move, the sympathetics will fire, essentially shutting off the parasympathetic system. This is why mom always told us not to swim right after eating. The body does not want to drown so the sympathetic system fires up as soon as we jump in the pool, shunting blood into our arms and legs, and away from our digestive system. Great to keep us alive, not great to digest the hamburger we just ate. The body is so efficient that it begins responding to potential needs even before the needs arise. Have you ever had a speech to give, or a performance to do, and found your heart beating faster, even before you stepped on stage. This is the sympathetic firing, shunting resources to allow the body to move. Now when the sympathetics are firing, it doesn’t allow the parasympathetic to work. This is why we sometimes get “butterfly’s” in our stomach before a big game for performance. We are moving blood away from our digestive system, and into our muscles. Without the parasympathetic system regulating the digestive system, it doesn’t work well. This complex balance between the actions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system constantly influence our state of health. Anatomically, the nerve cells that make up the sympathetic system reside in the spinal cord, right between the shoulder blades. The nerve cells of the parasympathetic system cells live in he brain stem and pelvis. Both of these systems influence the body by nerves exiting the spine and brain stem and traveling to their target tissue.
