Dysautonomia is an umbrella term for disorders of the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system responsible for controlling all unconscious functions, such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, digestion, and more. There are two parts to the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the parasympathetic and the sympathetic. The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is responsible for the “rest and digest” responses, such as digesting food, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and relaxing the body. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is the opposite and is responsible for the classic “flight or fight” response that leads to increased heart rate and blood pressure, slowed digestion, and general preparedness for stressful circumstances.
Clearly, the functions of the autonomic nervous system are vital to survival and normal functioning, so when there is an issue with it, the individual may have significant impairment. In fact, for some forms of dysautonomia, the rate of disability is fairly high, with 25% of POTS (a form of dysautonomia) patients reporting an inability to work or attend school due to their disorder. Studies have shown the functional impairment for those with POTS is similar to that of a person with congestive heart failure. Those with forms such as MSA and PAF face significant disability due to neurodegeneration that is often fatal. Difficulty regulating heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, sweating, digestion, urination, and motor control can be signs of dysautonomia. For many, though, the first symptom they experience is syncope, i.e. passing out or fainting.
Symptoms of Dysautonomia
- Syncope (Fainting)
- Near Syncope (the sensation of nearly fainting without a loss of consciousness)
- Heart rate that rises too much upon standing (over 120 bpm or more than 30 bpm from sitting)
- Heart rate that drops too low on standing (less than 60 bpm on standing)
- Blood pressure that is either too low or too high on standing
- Inability to thermoregulate
- Pallor or Flushing
- Difficulty thinking
- Slowed digestion (gastroparesis)
- Memory problems
- Fatigue
Forms of Dysautonomia:
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
- Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS)
- Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
- Pure Autonomic Failure (PAF)
- And more
Dysautonomias are often associated with the musculoskeletal disorder Ehlers-Danlos, which has several forms, all characterized by a problem in the collagen that holds connective tissue together in our body. People with EDS suffer frequent dislocations and subluxations of their joints, which can not only be very painful but can also contribute to impairment. For many, vertebral abnormalities can occur that put pressure on the blood vessels and nerves going into and out of the brain, as well as throughout the spine. This can have a significant effect on the clinical presentation of symptoms, since the base of the brain is responsible for many of the autonomic functions.
A skilled and experienced chiropractor can provide an individualized plan of care that can address such instabilities and misalignments to allow for improved blood flow and nervous system signals. This may lead to an improvement in symptoms and quality of life for the person with dysautonomia. Since dysautonomias disproportionately affect young women, effective care can help restore not only health but function in a vital time of life. Reach out to Bare Chiropractic today to discover how Dr. Thomas Keogh can help.
Sources
Dysautonomia Internation. (2019). What is dysautonomia? http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=34
Sánchez-Manso JC, Gujarathi R, Varacallo M. Autonomic Dysfunction. [Updated 2022 Sep 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430888/
