Also called autonomic dysfunction or autonomic neuropathy, dysautonomia refers to a group of medical disorders caused by problems with your autonomic nervous system (ANS). Your autonomic nervous system controls your body’s automatic functions, such as your heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, kidney function, and more.
Dysautonomia can show up in your body in many ways, as it affects various parts of your autonomic nervous system.
How common is dysautonomia?
The condition isn’t rare. Globally, it affects over 70 million people of all genders, races, and ages.
Research shows that having long COVID-19 puts you at a higher risk for dysautonomia. One study found it in almost 70% of those living with lasting COVID effects.
What Causes Dysautonomia?
When nerves in your autonomic nervous system don’t work the way they should, it results in a form of dysautonomia.
Side effects can range from less serious issues, such as lightheadedness, to severe complications and even death. Symptoms can span from being “invisible” to causing severe disabilities.
What Are the Symptoms of Dysautonomia?
If you have dysautonomia, your symptoms will depend on which type you have. But in general, you may have symptoms such as:
- Feeling lightheaded
- Having trouble standing up straight
- Passing out
- Feeling sick or throwing up
- Feeling very tired (fatigue)
- Having trouble concentrating or remembering things
- Slow heart rate (bradycardia) or fast heart rate (tachycardia)
- Changes in your pupils
- Having trouble pooping or diarrhea
What Are the Types of Dysautonomia?
There are about 15 types of dysautonomia. You can have more than one type at the same time. They include:
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
This is a more common form of the disorder. Symptoms might include a higher heart rate while standing. They can also include:
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Chest tightness
- Heart palpitations
- Tremors
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Sleep troubles
- Having a hard time exercising
Orthostatic hypotension (OH)
This happens when your body isn’t able to control your blood pressure when you stand. Symptoms might include:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Brain fog
- Nausea
- Headache
- Weakness
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the chest, neck, or shoulder
Other health problems can also cause orthostatic hypotension.
Noncardiogenic/vasovagal syncope (VVS)
VVS causes you to pass out. It happens because your autonomic nervous system doesn’t work the way it should. This causes you to have low blood pressure and a low heart rate. Before passing out, you might:
- Feel clammy or sweaty
- Feel nauseated
- Feel warm or flushed, or pale
- Have hearing changes
- Have graying vision or vision loss
Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST)
This causes your resting heart rate to go above 100 beats per minute without a known cause. Normal resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute. The main symptoms of IST are heart palpitations. But you might also have:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting spells
- Trouble working out
Autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG)
This is also called acute pandysautonomia or idiopathic subacute autonomic neuropathy. It’s a rare form of dysautonomia. It can lead to orthostatic hypotension. Other symptoms include:
- Dry mouth or eyes
- Bladder issues
- Burning or prickling in your arms or legs
- Adie’s pupil (which causes your pupil dilation to change)
- Gastroparesis (which affects the muscle movements in your stomach and can cause nausea and vomiting)
Baroreflex failure (BF)
This is rare. It affects how your body controls your blood pressure. Symptoms include:
- High or low blood pressure
- Blood pressure that changes often
- Passing out
- Headache
- Flushing
- Heart rate issues
Familial dysautonomia (FD)
This is also called Riley-Day syndrome. It’s a rare genetic disorder that only affects around 350 people in the world. It mainly affects people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, but it can happen to people of any race or ethnicity.
Symptoms include:
- Lower pain sensitivity
- A lack of tears
- Unstable body temperature and blood pressure
- Heart issues
- Not being able to swallow or suck
- Growth issues
- Vision problems
- Digestive issues
- Breathing troubles
Pure autonomic failure (PAF)
This rare form of dysautonomia is also called Bradbury-Eggleston syndrome. It causes issues with your autonomic nervous system cells. It’s usually severe and causes OH, dizziness, and passing out. It’s linked to Parkinson’s disease and dementia. This form usually happens in middle age, and it’s more common in men than in women.
Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
This is also rare. There are two types: MSA-P and MSA-C. MSA-P symptoms include tremors, rigid muscles, a hard time swallowing, slow movements, and balance and posture issues. With MSA-C, you’ll notice coordination issues, tremors, and slurred speech.
How Does COVID-19 Affect Dysautonomia?
Experts found dysautonomia in some of those who’ve had COVID. Some of their symptoms include:
- Tissue damage
- Immune issues
- Hormonal disturbances
- Higher cytokine levels
- Constant infection
The link between these symptoms and COVID may play a role in your chances of surviving the virus. This is because dysautonomia symptoms affect your breathing and heart and brain function. The drugs used in intensive care units (ICUs) may also lead to issues with your ANS.
Studies found 30%-67% of those with long COVID had dysautonomia after having COVID. POTS is the type of dysautonomia most commonly linked to COVID.
How Is Dysautonomia Diagnosed?
There are many ways to diagnose disorders within your autonomic nervous system. One of them includes a tilt table test.
With this, your doctor has you lie on a table. They connect you to medical tools that measure your oxygen, blood pressure, and heart activity. The table tilts you to see how your heart rate, blood pressure, and other ANS functions change.
Your doctor might also perform breathing tests, sweat tests, and blood tests, or take a closer look at your heart activity.
What Are the Treatments for Dysautonomia?
While there’s no cure for dysautonomia, you may be able to ease some of your symptoms.
Based on your symptoms, your doctor may suggest you take meds such as fludrocortisone and midodrine to raise your blood pressure. It may also help to raise the head of your bed 6-10 inches higher than your body while you sleep.
What’s the proper diet for dysautonomia?
Your diet when you have dysautonomia depends on your case. Your doctor may suggest you add salt to your diet, which can help control your blood pressure. They may also tell you to drink more water to keep your blood volume up.
Takeaways
Dysautonomia is an umbrella term used to describe many types of conditions that affect your autonomic nervous system. These conditions may affect your digestion, blood pressure, heart rate, or other autonomic nervous system functions. If you have dysautonomia, you may have symptoms such as lightheadedness, fatigue, or passing out, depending on the type you have. Dysautonomia is pretty common. Treatment depends on which type you have.
Dysautonomia FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about dysautonomia.
What is the life expectancy of someone with dysautonomia?
Most people with dysautonomia live normal, healthy lives. Some types, such as familial dysautonomia (FD), are more serious. About 50% of people with FD live to the age of 30.
What can be mistaken for dysautonomia?
Many times, dysautonomia goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. For example, doctors sometimes mistake dysautonomia for mental health conditions.
