09/08/2025
Studies have revealed that placing a cold pack under your armpit during feelings of sudden anxiety can help relieve that anxiety in seconds by stimulating the vagus nerve and reducing sympathetic nervous system arousal.
The vagus nerve is a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps regulate bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing.
The sympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for the “fight or flight or freeze” response, preparing the body for stress.
Cold exposure, even something as small as placing a cold pack directly under the armpit, activates the vagus nerve through a phenomenon called the diving reflex. This reflex is a physiological response to cold water immersion, causing a shift in the autonomic nervous system towards a more relaxed state.
When a cold pack is applied to the armpit, it stimulates nerve endings near major blood vessels and nerves, including those connected to the vagus nerve. This stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which leads to a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure and overall arousal.
PMID: 30684416
