What is dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia is an umbrella term for health conditions related to the autonomic nervous system. The term "autonomic" means ”self-governing,” which means it controls things you don't have to think about. This covers a wide range of bodily functions, such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, sweating, and much more.
Some of the most common forms include POTS, orthostatic hypotension, vasovagal syncope and autonomic dysreflexia.
What Causes Dysautonomia?
Autonomic dysfunction can be divided in to primary and secondary causes. Examples of primary causes include genetic or degenerative illnesses, while secondary causes could be injury, infection or environmental factors.
While some people with a form of dysautonomia can trace their illness to a single cause, often it can be a culmination of many factors. Let’s take a look at some of the most common.
Genetics
Some people are born with a predisposition for dysautonomia. For example, Familial dysautonomia is an inherited condition that prevents the normal development of autonomic and sensory nervous systems. FD occurs most often in people of Eastern European Jewish ancestry (Ashkenazi Jews). But, people from all backgrounds can have a higher likelihood to develop various forms of dysautonomia, due to family history of illness and their genetics.
Infections
Some infections may lead to autonomic changes. Recent research suggests that long COVID may be a form of dysautonomia, with a worsening of symptoms while standing and physical exertion.
Other infectious causes of dysautonomia include: HIV, Lyme disease, tetanus.
Toni Bernhard, author of "How to be Sick" describes her illness beginning with a flu she caught while on holiday in Paris.
Autoimmune diseases
Several autoimmune conditions can cause dysautonomia, including:
multiple sclerosis
lupus
Sjögren disease
Neurological diseases
Neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and other degenerative conditions, can cause autonomic dysfunction. Some of the dysautonomia symptoms from Parkinson's included heat intolerance and blood pressure issues.
Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, can result in dysautonomia with symptoms such as changes in heart rate.
Trauma
Just as with physical trauma, emotional trauma may also lead to dysautonomia.
Your ANS can be divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which work together to help you prepare for and respond to stress; trauma is believed to cause an imbalance in these systems.
The book "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk offers insight to the importance of the mind and body connection.
Diabetes
Diabetes may damage the nerves that regulate your internal organs, specifically from high glucose levels. This condition is called autonomic neuropathy, and it can cause various symptoms depending in which internal organ systems are affected.
Toxins
Working in environments with toxic substances, such as lead or poisons can lead to autonomic dysfunction.
16-73% of chronic alcohol abusers suffer from autonomic dysfunction.
Cancer
Cancerous tumours can affect your brain or spinal cord, which may lead to autonomic dysfunction. A tumour near your hypothalamus, pituitary gland, or brainstem is especially likely to disrupt the ANS functions of these structures.
Medications
Some medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, may lead to dysautonomia. Several medications might also worsen orthostatic hypotension, such as:
diuretics
vasodilators
some calcium channel blockers
To find out about the process of getting a dysautonomia diagnosis Click Here
Comments