Stimulating Vagus nerve cuts AF by 85%

[MarkS]

There's research showing an 85% reduction of AF through vagus nerve stimulation. This was done by passing a small current through the tragus (the little lump just in front of your earhole):

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/321...

[Finvola]

Thank you Mark - there may be a way forward if long term stimulation proves to be effective. Thank you for posting.

[jeanjeannie50]

We talked about this quite a few months ago and a forum member had sent off to buy one and was going to report back here, but not seen anything from him yet. How wonderful it would be if this worked. Humming is a good way of exercising the vagus nerve too. Going to do some now that I'm thinking of it.

[Suanna in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hmmmm....

[doodle68]

Hi Mark Interesting thank you.

I have read about this before, not the specific reserch you have posted more theories and even gadgets to put on the ear

[BobD Volunteer]

My Bowen man does vagus stimulation but more near jaw joints.

[cali111 in reply to BobD]

I have never heard of this. Being very symptomatic with AF do you know where I can access more info.

[Goosebumps]

The study mentions median AF burden reduction in paroxysmal AF sufferers. So how does a paroxysmal patient know the burden has been reduced If they are not always in AF? Did it relieve symptoms? During an attack? Or does it mean that their AF episodes are rarer? I pose the questions rhetorically of course, not expecting anyone to have the answers.

It cries out for the study to be repeated on persistent AF sufferers, like me.

A question that maybe someone can answer, is the vagus nerve impacted more by stimulating the left or right tragus?

[MarkS in reply to Goosebumps]

I assume it means AF episodes are rarer. When I had AF I could tell very easily if I was in AF. I kept a diary for a while which showed I was in AF 1 day in 3. So an 85% reduction would have meant I was in AF only 1 day in 20 which would have been huge.

I'm not sure which tragus they used.

[Bronte23 in reply to MarkS]

The left Tagus is used for bags nerve stimulation. I am now using the device used by the researchers - the Parasym. However, I sometimes have difficulty finding the correct level of stimulation. The device causes a tingling sensation and the correct level is the setting just below the one that causes the tingling. Sometimes I cannot detect any tingling even on the highest setting which is puzzling.

Whether the device works or not in terms of preventing afib I cannot confidently say. It’s too early to tell. My afib was extreme, nearly unbearable and I seized the chance to have an ablation five months ago. So far so good except for too many ectopics. I dread the afib returning so eventually bought this device in the hope it would help. I’d love to hear someone else’s experience of using it.

By the way this is a marvellous group to have found. So many thoughtful, kind, supportive people.

[Izzle]

Perhaps that's why some people claim improvement by humming, ie a vibration in the skull. What do others think?

[MarkS in reply to Izzle]

There seems to be quite a bit of evidence for that, e.g.:

drarielleschwartz.com/natur...

Scroll down to the vagus nerve stimulation exercises.

[LizzieAFib in reply to MarkS]

Very interesting. TY

[seasider18]

There must be different types of vagus nerve stimulation. I went back into AF after being in NSR for over a year when two procedures stimulated mine. Once by the probe when having a colonoscopy and once by a urologists finger when having a DRE.

The ward sister when I had my pacemaker fitted said that passing a large hard stool could have the same effect.

[ncernaa]

I have one of those TENS units. I wonder if it would work. It send small electrical current to the ear lobes, for anxiety.

[chenstone18 in reply to ncernaa]

I thought about that too and was going to get one. The report is very specific about waves lengths so may be replicated on a suitable tens machine.

[LizzieAFib]

Thank you very much for sharing this Mark. I'll definitely look into this.

[BigArnie]

Wow, 85% reduction seems extraordinary. I skim read the article and it’s conclusion seems reasonable, albeit I note some of the comments below. I also note that it was 2020 so perhaps not a widely known study? Anyway, at first sight it looks worth a go... did anyone follow up as indicated in the replies?