51. Dr. Navaz Habib: Your Nervous System is Under Attack—Here’s How to Fix It

Apr 8, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Navaz Habib, a functional medicine practitioner and author of 'Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve,' unveils the vital role of the vagus nerve in health management and inflammation control. He shares practical strategies like breathwork and innovative biohacking tools to enhance vagal tone. The discussion highlights the importance of heart rate variability (HRV) for tracking nervous system health and dives into the connection between gut health and the vagus nerve, empowering listeners to take charge of their well-being.

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

The Vagus Nerve: A Key to Health

02:53 • 19min

The Wandering Influence of the Vagus Nerve

22:19 • 9min

Exploring Holistic Health Through the Vagus Nerve and Functional Medicine

31:24 • 5min

Vagus Nerve: The Gut-Brain Connection

36:01 • 16min

Understanding Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

52:12 • 12min

Practical Breathing Techniques for Well-Being

01:04:36 • 4min

Enhancing Vagus Nerve Function

01:08:14 • 14min

Harnessing Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Stress Relief and Health Improvement

01:21:45 • 3min

Harnessing the Vagus Nerve for Wellness

01:24:19 • 10min

Inflammation drives nearly every chronic disease, yet most people overlook a key player in regulating it: the vagus nerve. This critical nerve connects brain to body, controlling digestion, heart rate, immunity, and recovery. But chronic stress shuts it down, leading to poor vagal tone, dysregulated inflammation, and reduced resilience.

In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Navaz Habib to explore how vagus nerve activation can reduce inflammation and improve healthspan. We dive into practical strategies to improve vagal tone, from breathwork and cold exposure to high-tech biohacking tools. We also unpack how HRV (heart rate variability) can be your secret weapon for tracking nervous system health, and why it's the future of longevity science.

Dr. Navaz Habib is a functional medicine practitioner, speaker, and author specializing in nervous system regulation and inflammation. His work empowers people to take control of their health by optimizing vagal tone and HRV.

We Also Talk About:

Unlocking Health Through the Vagus Nerve
Understanding Chronic Inflammation and Immune Responses
Regulating Inflammation Through Vagus Nerve
Optimizing Health With Heart Rate Variability
Mastering HRV Through Breathwork
Exploring Vagus Nerve Health Indicators
Exploring Vagus Nerve Stimulation Devices

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Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/
Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/

Learn more about Dr. Navaz Habib:

Instagram: @drnavazhabib
Facebook: Dr. Navaz Habib
YouTube: Dr. Navaz Habib