Reflex Cardiocutaneous

Imagine that you see the face of a friend who has caught a cold at work, but you don’t know what it is. You think about him, feel his anxiety and suddenly feel a lump in your throat. This is a reaction of sympathy, or the cardiac cutaneous reflex (CSR). This reflex occurs through the same group of nerves: the sympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for quickly responding to threats - anxiety, stress. At the same time, the body's systems begin to work on protection, and sometimes the body makes a lot of efforts to overcome the danger. However, with prolonged stress, the sympathetic system becomes out of balance and causes chronic stress. If we place a high value on our lives and view others as threats, our hormonal and chemical levels will affect our health, our lives, and the way other people interact with us.

If the DCS is not working properly, it means that the symptoms are low (too small, weak or fading), which can negatively impact our ability to cope with difficult situations. If the human cardiovascular system (CVS) reacts inadequately to stress, we can speak of cardiac dysfunction. Impairments in the functioning of the cardiovascular system can affect the health of the lungs, gastrointestinal tract and even the central nervous system. Impaired CSR can lead to bronchial asthma, obesity, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, anxiety, panic attacks, depression and other mental disorders.

Understanding the importance of this reflex can also help us understand when it works and when it doesn't, as we know that stress can take its toll on us. Those of us who believe we have some stressors in our lives will want to know about these potential sources of anxiety and stress and how we can manage them. In addition, understanding an important physiological reflex will help you better know yourself and realize the need to change your thoughts and behavior, which can negatively affect your internal balance and health.