Covid19 infection further linked to vagus nerve damage
Scientists published last month in Elsevier Journal of Public Health findings that further linked symptoms of vagal nerve neuropathy to damage resulting directly from covid infection.
Some symptoms such as difficulty swallowing had been previously thought to be more likely triggered by a period of intubation. But this study found that such symptoms also typically occur even in patients who never go intubation.
SARS-CoV-2 is known to cause neurological effects in 36% of infected individuals. This can lead to a number of symptoms, from mild headaches to more severe cases of (though rare) meningitis, epilepsy or stroke.
Commenting on the findings, Prof Kevin Tracy MD, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, said that this new study combined with other evidence indicated that it was vagal nerve damage from covid that was interfering with the body’s normal inflammatory reflex, “which normally inhibits inflammation [and so] contributes to the onset of the cytokine storm in Covid19.”
Prof Kevin Tracy has in previous publications highlighted the anti-inflammatory potential of vagus nerve stimulation.
At 82, I had Covid in Feb 2020. By pure chance, I was taking 20,000 iu Vit D3 when it struck. I had a 3 day steaming cold then a weird painless heart-squeezing sensation.
April 2022 to NHS hospital with chest pain. In for 3 days. No MRI.
They refused all input from me. Covid denial. Weaned myself off meds as symptoms more like TAKOTSUBO. Arjuma Bark improved symptoms, including swallowing. But I have novel Asthma (no family history). It switches on and off like a light to effort and emotion. Hence I called it NEURAL ASTHMA. Recently encountered Vagus relevance. Hence this memo. Thanks.
My son had 2 covid-19 shots otherwise he couldn’t work. Since then he’s had a problem with his vagus nerve. Not sure which side. He thought it was from the climbing gym. But I know better.
I don’t think he actually had covid sickness. Just the 2 shots. Wondering if others have complained about this. What can he do besides physical therapy?
10.3.2025 I was diagnosed with Covid on Sept. 14 2025. I was given a Z-pack and steroids to take for a week. On Sept. 29, 2025 I started with anxiety attacks in the late afternoon or evening. The physical symptoms were the feeling of buzzing or bees inside of me. And just something was wrong. Very unstable in the evenings. I had dealt with anxiety issues years ago so was familiar with all the different symptoms. On Sep. 30, 2025 I started with the spinning room (vertigo like symptoms). Which I knew also was a symptom of anxiety. I had already been off schedule with sleep and eating and eliminating due to the steroids I thought. So I was treating the anxiety with my prescribed meds from before which also helped me get my sleeping under control and stopped the horrendous belching and bee sensation and then the vertigo. I started working on the elimination schedule with the otc products and extra water intake. Eating was getting back to normal. But this vertigo symptoms continued. It was awful. Even during the day I couldn’t take the anxiety meds during the day. I thought maybe it was my head filling up; I had stopped taking allergy meds when I was diagnosed with Covid. So I started my 2 nasal sprays again to see if that would clear the vertigo symptoms. I was also getting a severe headache in the front of my head around my forehead. My supervisor told me he thought Covid affected the Vagus nerve because he had similar symptoms after being diagnosed and presumably cured of Covid. This got me studying. I have since started some Vagus Nerve exercises to re-set/repair the nerve and now I seem to be having some relief. COVID DID AFFECT MY VAGAL TONE and possibly my Vestibular nerve. Some of the Vagal reset exercises are simple and easy to anywhere or time. October 3rd I did not get the hibbie gibbies in the evening and did not have to take my .25 xanax. I did however have that headache about 4 am. Two extra strength Tylenol and a Goodys powder helped with that. I do feel a little queasy and very slight vertigo this morning. However, I will start right away with the Vagus toning. Ice cold water to the face, ice pack on the neck, eye movement back and forth, humming, gargling, ear flap massage, eye and cartoid massage.
I spent a week in the hospital about 2 years ago with Covid. They never fully treated me, but a friend snuck in Ivermectin and I got better and went home. I did not have swallowing difficulties at that point. My PCP was irate that they did not treat me but just 1 day on antibiotics. They refused to help me eat, even though I asked if they would because I had lost my appetite and was weak. They said that was not their job!! I wonder what their job was??
I had swallowing difficulties later, sometime after I got out. and feared I would be unable to eat at all, it was so bad, but with support and prayer (and more nutrients!) I got thru it in a few weeks while it came and went, and finally went altogether. Since then, I have had no further problems with it. I do have a minor problem with my swallowing muscles, where one is not working in sync with the other. I think I may have had that issue before Covid and perhaps it got worse after. I was not diagnosed with it until they did a bunch of tests trying to look at my stomach and digestive system, so I can’t really say.