Menopause Reimagined with Andrea Donsky

Ep #105: Anxiety & Your Vagus Nerve in Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr. Navaz Habib

• Andrea Donsky, Nutritionist

Andrea Donsky, nutritionist, Menopause Researcher, Menopause Educator, and co-founder of Morphus, interviews Dr. Navaz Habib about the importance of understanding vagus nerve dysfunction and how to fix it to enjoy less anxiety in perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Habib is a Chiropractor and Functional Medicine practitioner, the host of the Health Upgraded Podcast, and the Author of two books on the Vagus Nerve.

Signs & Symptoms Survey https://forms.gle/Tw6vyp3cKoDp3CuZA 
Anxiety Survey https://forms.gle/mcWWkX7xwDb1ci6R7 
Morphus Sleepus https://bit.ly/3Q1SQvW 

What is the vagus nerve? The control point for our body's rest, digestion, and recovery functions.
The difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
The impact of adrenals, microbiome, hormonal regulation, and the immune system on this system.
What causes the vagus nerve to "break down"?
What we can do to help relax ourselves, handle stress, and reduce depression and anxiety
We look at the root causes of stress and the different types of stress, including physical, biochemical, and psychological stress. Functional testing is key to identifying biochemical stressors.
The importance of self-compassion, self-forgiveness, and mindset.
How do we know if our vagus nerve is or isn't working well?
Understanding heart rate, heart rate recovery, and heart rate variability. Understanding how to use wearable technology for health tracking effectively.
Things you can do to stimulate your vagus nerve with exercises like breathing techniques, vocalizing mantras, humming, gargling, and singing.
How a feeling of safety affects the vagus nerve

Actionable Tips:

- Practice conscious breathing: belly breaths with longer exhales than inhales
- Use mantras to manage stress and anxiety
- Monitor HRV trends with wearable devices, aiming for personal improvement
- Measure heart rate recovery after workouts

Signs & Symptoms Survey https://forms.gle/Tw6vyp3cKoDp3CuZA 
Anxiety Survey https://forms.gle/mcWWkX7xwDb1ci6R7 
Morphus Sleepus https://bit.ly/3Q1SQvW 

Dr. Navaz Habib's Books https://amzn.to/4bk6Jwy 
Health Upgrade Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-health-upgrade-podcast/id1540349524 
Vagus Nerve and Heart Rate Variability

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DISCLAIMER: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. This podcast contains affiliate links from which Morphus will receiv...

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