A new study from the University of Southampton has found that people with throat problems might have a harder time keeping their blood pressure stable.
The research, published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, is the first to show that throat issues can weaken something called “baroreflex sensitivity,” which is an important part of how the body controls blood pressure.
Our bodies have an automatic system called the autonomic nervous system that helps keep vital functions running, like our heart rate, breathing, and digestion. One of its key jobs is to control blood pressure. It does this through the baroreflex—a kind of built-in safety system.
The baroreflex quickly adjusts your heart rate and tightens or loosens your blood vessels to make sure your blood pressure stays steady. This is especially important when you stand up or move suddenly. Without it, you could feel dizzy or even faint.
But researchers found that in people with throat-related symptoms, this system doesn’t work as well. The lead scientist, Professor Reza Nouraei, explained that the vagus nerve—one of the major nerves involved in the autonomic system—might be focusing too much on protecting the throat instead of helping to control blood pressure.
The vagus nerve helps regulate many vital functions, including heartbeat, breathing, and digestion. It also plays a key role in the throat, especially during swallowing. The throat has to carefully manage air and food so they go down the right paths—into the lungs or the stomach.
When this process doesn’t work properly, it can trigger reflexes that cause symptoms like coughing, throat tightness, or the feeling that something is stuck in the throat. These symptoms are often caused by things like acid reflux or viral infections, including COVID-19, which can irritate the nerves in the throat.
Professor Nouraei said that the throat is very important for survival because it protects the lungs from food or liquids going down the wrong way. When the body senses a threat to the throat, it may shift its focus away from other tasks—like blood pressure control—to make sure the airways are safe.
To better understand this link, the researchers studied 53 people. One group of 23 had throat-related symptoms like frequent coughing or the feeling of a lump in the throat. The other group of 30 had digestive issues like acid reflux but no throat symptoms.
Both groups experienced reflux, but those with throat symptoms had higher resting heart rates, lower blood pressure, and weaker baroreflex sensitivity. This means their bodies were less able to adjust to changes in posture or stress, which could make them more likely to feel dizzy or lightheaded, and possibly more at risk of heart problems in the long term.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, doctors have noticed a rise in patients reporting throat symptoms, especially long after their infections have cleared up. These lingering throat issues may be putting extra pressure on the vagus nerve, which could affect how the body controls other important functions.
The researchers say their findings are important because poor baroreflex sensitivity has been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. If throat problems are interfering with this system, early treatment could help reduce these risks.
This study also adds to growing interest in the vagus nerve and how it connects to many areas of health, including mood, digestion, breathing, and now blood pressure. Professor Nouraei said that if throat problems are overworking the vagus nerve, then treating those issues might help improve the nerve’s performance in other parts of the body.
The research team now plans to study the long-term effects of throat conditions on the body’s automatic nervous system and to explore whether treating throat issues can improve blood pressure control and overall health. This could lead to better, more complete care for patients who have both throat problems and heart-related conditions.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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