What is Dysautonomia?

Dysautonomia [dis-aw-tuh-noh-mee-uh]

Also called autonomic dysfunction, is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that affect the autonomic nervous system. ¹ The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls the body’s involuntary, automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, temperature regulation, and pupil response. ² Dysautonomia happens when the nerves in the ANS either don’t function or communicate well, leading to a variety of symptoms. Autonomic failure occurs when the nerves are damaged or not working at all. ³

Incidence

While dysautonomia is not rare, it is not fully understood or commonly known in the medical community and beyond.

Overall, it is estimated that dysautonomia impacts around 70 million people worldwide. ⁴

Some dysautonomias are rare, while others are much more common. Dysautonomia can occur alone, known as a primary condition, or as a result of another disease, known as a secondary condition. ⁵ It can impact men and women equally. ⁶

However, some forms like postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) appear to impact more females than males. ⁷ ⁸

Causes/Triggers

Some dysautonomias can occur suddenly, while others develop more gradually. ⁹ Each form can be caused or triggered by different conditions, diseases, injuries, or disorders.

Causes or triggers of dysautonomia may include:

Autoimmune Conditions

Deconditioning/ Prolonged Bed Rest

Concussions

Connective Tissue Disorders

Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders

Genetic Conditions

Infections

Medications

Nutritional Deficiencies

Pregnancy

Parkinson’s Disease

Surgery

Viruses

For some individuals, if they are able to eventually determine the cause and obtain successful treatment and symptom management, then the symptoms of dysautonomia can improve. ¹⁰

Other individuals may not be able to determine the cause of their autonomic dysfunction, or they might have several potential triggers or causes. Regardless of the cause or trigger, dysautonomia symptoms can be managed to help the individual live the best possible life they can. ¹¹

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for dysautonomia.

Reviewed by Medical Content Experts, 2021

REFERENCES

Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Dysautonomia. {1, 4, 6}

Freeman, K., Goldstein, D.S., & Thompson, C.R. (2015). The dysautonomia project: Understanding autonomic nervous system dysfunction for physicians and patients. Bardolf & Company. {3}

Low, P. (2020). Overview of the autonomic nervous system. Merck Manual Consumer Version. {2}

Medline Plus. (2020, November 23). Autonomic Nervous System Disorders. National Institutes of Health. {5, 12}

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2019). Dysautonomia Information Page. National Institutes of Health. {11}

Shaw, B. H., Stiles, L. E., Bourne, K., Green, E. A., Shibao, C. A., Okamoto, L. E., Garland, E. M., Gamboa, A., Diedrich, A., Raj, V., Sheldon, R. S., Biaggioni, I., Robertson, D., & Raj, S. R. (2019). The face of postural tachycardia syndrome: Insights from a large cross-sectional online community-based survey. Journal of Internal Medicine, 286(4), 438–448. {7}

Sheldon, R. S., Grubb, B. P., Olshansky, B., Shen, W. K., Calkins, H., Brignole, M., Raj, S. R., Krahn, A. D., Morillo, C. A., Stewart, J. M., Sutton, R., Sandroni, P., Friday, K. J., Hachul, D. T., Cohen, M. I., Lau, D. H., Mayuga, K. A., Moak, J. P., Sandhu, R. K., & Kanjwal, K. (2015). 2015 heart rhythm society expert consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of postural tachycardia syndrome, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, and vasovagal syncope. Heart rhythm, 12(6), e41–e63. {8}