The actions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system are often antagonistic, but always divergent.1 The sympathetic system mediates the ‘fight or flight’ response (increasing heart rate and airway dilation, decreasing blood flow to viscera (internal organs) and increasing blood flow to muscle).1,2 The parasympathetic system mediates the ‘rest and digest’ response (slowing heart rate, increasing blood flow to digestive organs and increasing gastric motility.1,2
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