The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a part of our body that helps keep us balanced and healthy. It has two main parts: the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system. Both are super important for staying alive and feeling good.

1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS):

   • This part kicks in when we feel stressed, helping us react quickly.
   • It speeds up our heart rate, making it go up by 70-100 beats per minute. This helps get more blood to our muscles.

2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS):

   • This part helps us relax and digest our food.
   • It slows down our heart rate and helps our body use energy more wisely.

Some Interesting Facts:

• The ANS controls about 90% of the things our body does without us thinking about it.
• If the ANS doesn’t work well, it can cause problems like high blood pressure, which affects about 45% of adults in the U.S.

In short, the SNS and PNS work together to keep our body balanced. They help us respond to stress and manage our energy, which is essential for our health and survival.