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Dysautonomia is a neurological illness that affects millions of people around the world. Yet, it isn't widely known or understood. Dysautonomia occurs when the automatic nervous system no longer functions the way it should, which can cause problems all over the body. It comes with a wide variety of symptoms that vary in severity from person to person. As such, it can be quite difficult to diagnose and many people spend years in the dark while trying to get to the bottom of their condition.
Click through the following gallery for an introduction to dysautonomia, along with its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Dysautonomia refers to a group of illnesses that can occur when the automatic nervous system isn’t working properly.
These include breathing, heartbeat, and digestion. If the ANS isn’t working properly, then you can experience issues with breathing, heart and blood pressure, and bladder control. The automatic nervous system (ANS) regulates functions in the body that happen automatically.
Dysautonomia can present itself in two different ways. One is primary dysautonomia, which means that it is its own disorder and there aren’t other diseases present.
Secondary dysautonomia is when someone has another illness or disease and dysautonomia occurs as a condition of it. Many common illnesses include dysautonomia as a potential side effect.
These include diabetes, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, HIV, Lyme disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, Vitamin B and E deficiencies, and many more.
Dysautonomia is a relatively common condition, affecting approximately 70 million people worldwide. It’s something you can be born with, develop slowly as you age, or be struck with suddenly later in life. It affects men and women equally.
For some people, their symptoms will be very mild and have minimal effect on their quality of life. For others, it can be extremely severe, or even fatal.
Dysautonomia occurs when the nerves in your ANS don’t communicate properly with other parts of your body. This can cause a wide variety of symptoms.
These ANS malfunctions can disrupt blood pressure, breathing, digestion, heart rate, kidney functioning, pupil dilation, sexual functioning, and temperature control in the body.
The condition and symptoms can be worsened by certain factors like alcohol, dehydration, stress, hot environments, or tight clothing.
Sometimes viral illnesses can trigger dysautonomia, similar to chronic fatigue syndrome. It can also be triggered by exposure to certain chemicals. The Gulf War Syndrome that appeared in soldiers returning from the 1990-1991 Gulf War is an example of dysautonomia.
As mentioned previously, dysautonomia is the umbrella term for a group of conditions that involve malfunctioning of the ANS. Let’s take a look at some of the most common conditions.
Neurocardiogenic syncope is the most common form of dysautonomia. The main symptom is fainting spells, but the frequency of the incidents can range drastically. Some people might faint only a couple of times in their life, while others might faint a couple of times a day.
POTS is a disorder that affects the heart. It causes problems with circulation in the body, which can lead to fainting after standing up, shortness of breath, and chest pains.
Familial dysautonomia is a type of genetic dysautonomia that sufferers inherit from their relatives. It can cause increased sensitivity to pain, trouble regulating body temperature, and a lack of tears in the eyes.
Familial dysautonomia is more common among Ashkenazi Jewish people, or those with Eastern European heritage.
Multiple system atrophy is a life-threatening form of dysautonomia that occurs in people over the age of 40. It can cause heart rate issues, low blood pressure, loss of bladder control, and erectile dysfunction.
People with this disorder experience a drop in blood pressure when they stand up. The symptoms include dizziness, fainting, visual problems, chest pain, and tiredness. The symptoms can sometimes be relieved by sitting down.
It’s important to find a knowledgeable neurologist or cardiologist in order to diagnose dysautonomia. Many different kinds of tests may be required to diagnose it correctly. One common option is tilt-table testing.
The main test for diagnosing dysautonomia is the tilt-table test. This rather strange-looking test moves the patient from a lying to a standing position.
They lie on a table with their feet secured and the table moves, tilting them into a standing position. Their blood pressure and other functions are measured to see if their ANS responds properly.
Other tests a doctor may perform to diagnose dysautonomia include sweating tests, breathing tests, blood tests, and a heart workup.
Dysautonomia doesn’t have any cure. However, there are a wide variety of therapies that can be used to manage the symptoms. The following are a few of the most common strategies.
Drinking more water is usually recommended for those who suffer from dysautonomia. Consuming extra fluids helps to keep the blood volume up, which can reduce the symptoms. Each person’s doctor should be able to advise them on just how much more they need to drink.
Adding extra salt to the diet can also help to keep a normal fluid volume in your blood vessels, which is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure.
Since low blood pressure is a common side effect of dysautonomia, certain medications like fludrocortisone and midodrine that increase blood pressure may be necessary.
Sources: (Cleveland Clinic) (Verywell Health)
See also: Stars who suffer from chronic illnesses
Dysautonomia: The silent illness impacting millions of people worldwide
Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments
HEALTH Nervous system
Dysautonomia is a neurological illness that affects millions of people around the world. Yet, it isn't widely known or understood. Dysautonomia occurs when the automatic nervous system no longer functions the way it should, which can cause problems all over the body. It comes with a wide variety of symptoms that vary in severity from person to person. As such, it can be quite difficult to diagnose and many people spend years in the dark while trying to get to the bottom of their condition.
Click through the following gallery for an introduction to dysautonomia, along with its causes, symptoms, and treatments.