#27 - Wandering Around Vagus (WAV) - April 2025

Vagal Function: Cardiovascular Health

Welcome to Month 27 of Wandering Around Vagus, a paid monthly subscription series exploring the Vagus Nerve + Polyvagal Theory.

I’m Tina Foster of Foster & Flourish, the creator and guide of Wandering Around Vagus.

First, a few quick notes to help you orient within our pages:

• If you’re new, or need a review, here’s the link to the START page.

• You can find last month’s post (our 26th) on the vagus nerve and digestion here.

• Monthly & Supplementary Posts + Recordings can be accessed by topic from the navigation bar atop the Wandering Around Vagus Homepage.

• All past posts are listed in reverse chronological order on the archive page.​

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THIS MONTH’S WORK

As you know if you’ve been in WAV for a while, the vagus nerve links the brain, heart and gut and plays a vital role in the health of the body, mind, and emotions. One of its most important functions is supporting cardiovascular health—acting as a built-in smart regulator that helps the heart and blood vessels function smoothly. The vagus controls heart rate, reduces inflammation, regulates blood pressure, and maintains a healthy balance between relaxation, alertness, and mobilization.

In this edition, we’ll look at how the vagus nerve supports cardiovascular function, the specific branches involved, and what happens to heart health when the vagus malfunctions. We’ll also look at some simple, natural ways to strengthen the connection between the vagus and heart function. In practice, we’ll map the vagal branches associated with the heart and observe our heart rate through a guided breathing exercise.

By the end of this post you’ll have a better sense of:

• the overall role of the vagus nerve in cardiovascular health

• which branches of the vagus nerve are involved in cardiovascular health

• how vagal health contributes to heart health

• some common cardiovascular disorders that involve the vagus nerve

• the role the vagus nerve plays in your own cardiovascular system and any pre-existing issues you have.

Cardiovascular Functions of the Vagus Nerve

Let’s start with a more complete list of the cardiovascular functions the vagus nerve is involved in. Here are some of the critical roles the vagus nerve plays in maintaining cardiovascular health:

1. Heart Rate Regulation – Slows down and speeds up the heart rate as needed

2. Regulation of Blood Flow/Blood Pressure Control – Helps maintain healthy blood pressure by promoting blood vessel dilation to help regulate body temperature, deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues, and to detox and remove waste

3. Cardiac Output Regulation – Helps optimize the volume of blood the heart pumps with each beat

4. Prevention of Arrhythmias – Modulates electrical activity in the heart, helping to prevent abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation

5. Anti-Inflammatory Response – Reduces inflammation in blood vessels and the heart

6. Sympathetic Nervous System Counterbalance – Keeps fight-or-flight in check, preventing excessive cardiovascular stress