Shingles, Symptoms, Treatment and Complications

Vagal maneuver is a technique that is usually used to treat heart palpitations without using medication. This procedure has several techniques, both carried out by yourself and by a doctor, to reduce the risk of failure. The vagal or vagus is the main nerve in the human autonomic nervous system. Autonomic nerves themselves are nerves that control body functions and activities without realizing it, for example heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate.

Some disorders of the vagal nerve, such as heart palpitations, can be treated by applying vagal maneuvers. This method is used to stimulate the vagal nerve to reduce a heartbeat that is too fast to return to normal.

There are several vagal maneuver techniques that can be used, ranging from the Valsalva maneuver to carotid sinus massage. Apart from dealing with heart palpitations, vagal maneuvers can also be an examination to confirm a medical condition.

Benefits and Conditions treated with Vagal Maneuvers

There are several vagal techniques maneuvers that can be performed, ranging from the Valsalva maneuver to carotid sinus massage. Apart from dealing with heart palpitations, vagal maneuvers can also be an examination to confirm a medical condition.

The following are several conditions that can be treated or diagnosed with vagal maneuvers:

1. Overcoming heart palpitations

Heart palpitations generally occur after you do strenuous activities, such as exercise. However, heart palpitations that do not return to normal after you rest can indicate a health problem, one of which is supraventricular tachycardia.

Doctors usually perform vagal maneuvers as the first treatment so that the heartbeat due to supraventricular tachycardia returns to normal. One technique used is carotid sinus massage. This method will reduce stimulation of the heart rate regulator, so that the heart rate slows down and returns to normal.

2. Confirming a hernia

Physical examination is one way doctors use to detect hernias. The examination is carried out by looking or feeling the location where the hernia can appear.

To detect hernias, especially inguinal hernias, the doctor can instruct you to perform a vagal maneuver technique in the form of the Valsalva maneuver or coughing. If there is a hernia, the doctor can feel the bulge moving because there is pressure around the stomach when you do a vagal maneuver.

3. Finding out the cause of dizziness

Vagal maneuver using carotid sinus massage technique can be done to check the cause of dizziness which is suspected to be due to carotid hyperstimulation syndrome. The doctor will gently massage the carotid sinus arteries in the neck to monitor heart rhythm and blood pressure. This monitoring is assisted by an EKG and a blood pressure measuring device (tensimeter).

The carotid sinus artery plays a role in regulating blood pressure and distributing blood supply to the brain. In some people, the carotid sinus becomes more sensitive when under pressure, causing blood pressure to drop or heart rate to slow down when massaged. This condition can cause dizziness.

4. Finding out the cause of fainting

Apart from causing dizziness, carotid hyperstimulation syndrome which reduces blood flow to the brain can also cause fainting for no reason. Vagal maneuvers performed using carotid sinus massage techniques will also be performed to confirm fainting or syncope that is suspected to be due to carotid hyperstimulation syndrome.

5. Overcoming ringworm ears

You may have experienced ringworm ears and they feel full when you are on a plane or at a high place. Bind ear occurs due to blockage of the eustachian tube, which is the tube that connects the middle of the ear and the back of the nose.

This condition is actually not harmless and can improve on its own. However, you can overcome this with one of the vagal maneuver techniques, namely the Valsalva maneuver. This technique will open the eustachian tube and relieve the ear.

Several Vagal Maneuver Techniques

There are several techniques for vagal maneuvers . Each of these techniques aims to shock and trigger a response from the autonomic nervous system so that it returns to functioning properly.

The following are several ways to perform the vagal maneuver:

Valsalva maneuver

The Valsalva maneuver is a breathing technique used to treat problems with the autonomic nervous system, such as heart palpitations.

The following are the steps for performing the Valsalva maneuver as a vagal technique maneuver:

• Sit up straight.
• Put your mouth shut and take a deep breath through your nose.
• Cover your nose with your finger while holding your breath.
• Try to squeeze your abdominal muscles as if you were straining when defecating for 10–15 seconds.
• Exhale air from your nose or mouth slowly and breathe normally.
• Wait at least 1 minute before you repeat the Valsalva maneuver.

Immerse your face in cold water

Different from the Valsalva maneuver, the vagal technique This maneuver is done by immersing your face in a container filled with ice water. Here are the steps:

• Prepare a container filled with cold water.
• Sit in as comfortable a position as possible.
• Take a deep breath and then immerse your face in a container of cold water for 15 seconds.
• Make sure you hold your breath while your face is in cold water

In addition to immersing your face in cold water, you also You can use a bag filled with ice and put it on your face for 15 seconds. This method is able to stimulate the vagal nerve which controls the speed and rhythm of the heartbeat when holding your breath.

Cough

Coughing is the body's natural response and is a reflex of the vagal nerve to remove foreign objects that enter the throat and lungs. Apart from being a bodily response, deliberate coughing can be done as a vagal maneuver technique.

To do this, you can take a deep breath and then cough vigorously several times. This method can increase pressure in the chest and stimulate the vagal nerve.

Carotid sinus massages

Other techniques in vagal maneuvers that What can be done is carotid sinus massage. This massage is carried out on the vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the brain, face and neck.

The carotid sinus (carotid artery) is located under the left and right neck, which then branches into 2 more blood vessels. small. You may find it difficult to find the exact location of this artery, so carotid sinus massage should only be done by a doctor.

The doctor will ask you to lie on your back and turn your head to the left or right side. After that, the doctor will press the carotid sinus artery in your neck or under your jaw for 5–10 seconds.

Risks of Vagal Maneuver

Vagal maneuver in the form of the Valsalva maneuver will increase blood pressure suddenly. If not done properly, this technique can cause chest pain, irregular heartbeat and fainting.

Meanwhile, vagal maneuvers in the form of carotid sinus massage even have the risk of causing a stroke if done on people who have blood clots in the carotid artery. If massaged, blood clots can move to the brain and then cause a stroke.

Vagal maneuvers in the form of coughing or straining can increase the pressure in the eyeball. This condition increases the risk of blood vessels bursting in retinopathy sufferers, people who have undergone cataract surgery, and people who have undergone eye lens installation surgery.

Therefore, these techniques The vagal maneuver must be done carefully or carried out directly by a doctor.

If you have tried maneuvering techniques to treat heart palpitations but the condition does not improve after 20 minutes, you should immediately go to the emergency room. This is also done if you experience heart palpitations with several signs of a heart attack or stroke.

Vagal maneuvers can be first aid to relieve heart palpitations if done correctly. However, you are still advised to see a doctor if you experience heart palpitations, especially if you have several risk factors, such as suffering from congenital heart disease, obesity and high blood pressure, and have a family history of heart defects.

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