Autonomic Dysfunction or Autonomic Neuropathy -is also known as “Dysautonomia.” It is an umbrella term for several autonomic nervous system disorders. The autonomic nervous system is a subsystem of the nervous system, just like the somatic nervous system. However, the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary (automatic, that works independently) functions of visceral organs such as heartbeat/heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, renal functions, bladder function, hormonal function, sexual function, dilation and constriction of the pupils of the eye, and temperature changes.
When the functioning of the autonomic nervous system is affected by any trauma or illness, it results in dysautonomia (that can affect any organ system), such as cardiac diseases, fluctuation in blood pressure, loss of bladder control, digestive disorders, respiratory disorders (difficulty in breathing), and other medical conditions associated with visceral organs.
Up to 70 million people worldwide may be affected by some form of autonomic dysfunction.
How can one get Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia is a medical condition that can be congenital (present at birth) or appear gradually or suddenly at any age.
- It can affect anyone besides their gender or race.
- The severity of the disease ranges from mild to severe or even fatal.
Categories of Autonomic Dysfunction
Autonomic dysfunction is divided into two categories depending on the disorder’s etiology. These two categories are as follows:
- Primary Dysautonomia
- Secondary Dysautonomia
Primary Dysautonomia
It is a type of autonomic dysfunction that can occur independently due to the deterioration of the autonomic nervous system without any underlying etiology. However, it can be inherited. It includes the following:
- Familial Dysautonomia
- Idiopathic Dysautonomia
Secondary Dysautonomia
A condition of autonomic dysfunction that results as a response to any injury, illness, or disease is known as secondary dysautonomia. It can result from the following medical diseases.
- Diabetes.
- Lupus.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Sjogren’s syndrome.
- Muscular sclerosis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
These are some of the examples that can cause autonomic neuropathy.
Causes
It can occur as primary or secondary dysautonomia. The major cause of autonomic dysfunction is the abnormality in the function of the autonomic nervous system. It affects nerve signaling, thus resulting in disease. Regarding secondary dysautonomia, the following disorders can lead to this condition.
- Spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury
- Alcoholism
- Amyloidosis
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren’s syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Vitamin B and E deficiencies
- Craniocervical instability
- Diabetes
- Eaton-Lambert syndrome
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- HIV and AIDS
- COVID
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
- Synucleinopathy is a group of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple systems atrophy, and Parkinson’s disease.
- Surgery or injury involving the nerves
Types of Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia is a medical term that covers a number of diseases related to the autonomic nervous system. Some conditions that can be caused by primary dysautonomia include the following:
- Familial dysautonomia (FD)
- Neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) – Approximately 1 in 10 people with dysautonomia are diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS).
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) – Approximately 1 in 3 people with dysautonomia are diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA) – Approximately 1 in 20 people with dysautonomia are diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).
- Pure autonomic failure – Approximately 1 in 50 people with dysautonomia are diagnosed with Pure Autonomic Failure (PAF)
- Orthostatic Hypotension (OH)
- Vasovagal Syncope
- Baroreflex Failure
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of Autonomic Dysfunction (Dysautonomia)
Symptoms of autonomic dysfunction vary from person to person. In some cases, symptoms appear gradually and then disappear after some time. However, in some cases, the symptoms remain constant. Common symptoms of dysautonomia include lightheadedness, dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision, difficulty regulating body temperature, unstable blood pressure, abnormal heart rates, malnutrition, and in severe cases, death.
Other symptoms
These include the following:
- Balance problems
- Dehydration
- Difficulty swallowing
- Erectile dysfunction
- Low blood sugar
- Frequent urination, incontinence, or UTI
- Chest pain/discomfort
- Swings in body and skin temperature
- Sweat less than usual or not at all
- Exercise intolerance (heart rate doesn’t adjust to changes in activity level)
- Brain “fog”/ forgetfulness/can’t focus