There are many components to the nervous system – here we will focus on the autonomic nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system regulates certain body processes, such as blood pressure and the rate of breathing. This system works automatically (autonomously), without a person’s conscious effort.

Disorders of the autonomic nervous system can affect any body part or process. Autonomic disorders may be reversible or progressive.

The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that supplies the internal organs, including the blood vessels, stomach, intestine, liver, kidneys, bladder, genitals, lungs, pupils, heart, and sweat, salivary, and digestive glands.

The autonomic nervous system has two main divisions:

• Sympathetic
• Parasympathetic

After the autonomic nervous system receives information (via your perception) about the body and external environment, it responds by stimulating body processes, usually through the sympathetic division, or inhibiting them, usually through the parasympathetic division.

An autonomic nerve pathway involves cellular communication from the brainstem or spinal cord and the cluster of nerve cells (called an autonomic ganglion). Nerve fibers from these ganglia connect with internal organs. Most of the ganglia for the sympathetic division are located just outside the spinal cord on both sides of it. The ganglia for the parasympathetic division are located near or in the organs they connect with.

The autonomic nervous system controls internal body processes such as the following:

• Blood pressure
• Heart and breathing rates
• Body temperature
• Digestion
• Metabolism (thus affecting body weight)
• The balance of water and electrolytes (such as sodium and calcium)
• The production of body fluids (saliva, sweat, and tears)
• Urination
• Defecation
• Sexual response

Many organs are controlled primarily by either the sympathetic or the parasympathetic division. Sometimes the two divisions have opposite effects on the same organ. For example, the sympathetic division increases blood pressure, and the parasympathetic division decreases it. Overall, the two divisions work together to ensure that the body responds appropriately to different situations.

Generally, the sympathetic division does the following:

• Prepares the body for stressful or emergency situations—fight or flight

Thus, the sympathetic division increases heart rate and the force of heart contractions and widens (dilates) the airways to make breathing easier. It causes the body to release stored energy. Muscular strength is increased. This division also causes palms to sweat, pupils to dilate, and hair to stand on end. It slows body processes that are less important in emergencies, such as digestion and urination.

The parasympathetic division does the following:

• Controls body process during ordinary situations.

Generally, the parasympathetic division conserves and restores. It slows the heart rate and decreases blood pressure. It stimulates the digestive tract to process food and eliminate wastes. Energy from the processed food is used to restore and build tissues.

Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions are involved in sexual activity, as are the parts of the nervous system that control voluntary actions and transmit sensation from the skin.

HealthECircuits has the ability to look into the perception of stress by the body, and/or how stressed is the body/mind. It is intriguing to learn how the body is perceiving the world, with or without our conscious knowledge. The BEST scan report has been able to validate for individuals things that they have been feeling/thinking, but have not been able to verbalize. Insights into how our lifestyle from both a mental/emotional standpoint can provide powerful tools with which to choose the best healing path for you – complete personalization and optimization for you and you alone!