Dysautonomy, or autonomic dysfunction, is a medical term used to describe a condition that impairs various functions of the body because it causes changes in the autonomic nervous system. This system is composed of the brain and nerves and is responsible for involuntary movements of the body such as heartbeat, control of breathing, functioning of the kidneys and dilation of the pupils.
The symptoms of dysautonomia are not always visible, however, signs such as dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, inability to stand, vision problems, vertigo and even memory loss may appear. Thus, as these symptoms are common to other situations, they can be confused with other diseases.
This change does not have specific causes, but it can happen due to diseases such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, amyloidosis, porphyria, traumas and injuries of the central nervous system. The diagnosis of dysautonomy is made through a clinical examination performed by a neurologist or cardiologist and through genetic tests, since there is no cure, but therapies and medications can be performed to relieve symptoms.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of dysautonomia may differ depending on the type, vary from person to person and are not always possible to observe. However, as this disease causes changes in the nervous system, it can lead to the appearance of signs such as:
- Dizziness; Fainting; Shortness of breath suddenly; Weakness of muscles; Inability to stand; Nausea and vomiting; Vision problems; Memory loss; Sudden changes in mood; Sensitivity to light; Palpitations; Difficulty performing physical exercises; Tremors excessive.
Some signs of dysautonomy are identified only with specific devices or tests, which can be a drop in pressure, an increase or decrease in heart rate, a drop in blood pressure, problems in maintaining body temperature and a reduction in blood sugar.
The diagnosis of this condition can be made by a neurologist or cardiologist through the analysis of these symptoms and through complementary tests, such as genetic tests that serve to identify changes in the body's genes.
Possible causes
Dysautonomia can appear in people of any age, sex or race, but some types may be more common in women, such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, for example. The causes of this change are not well defined, but it can arise as a consequence of other diseases such as diabetes, amyloidosis, fibromyalgia, multiple myeloma, porphyria, trauma and injuries to the central nervous system.
Some situations can also lead to the appearance of dysautonomia, such as excessive use of alcohol and certain medications, such as antidepressants, antihypertensives, antipsychotics or antineoplastic drugs, but these cases are more rare. See more other diseases that can be caused by the excessive use of alcoholic beverages.
What are the types
Dysautonomy is a condition that causes changes in the autonomic nervous system and can appear in different ways, the main types being:
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: it is based on the appearance of symptoms such as dizziness, increased heart rate, severe shortness of breath and chest pain, mainly affects younger women, under 40 years old; Neurocardiogenic syncope: it is the most common type, it leads to the appearance of constant fainting; Family dysautonomia: it is very rare, it appears only in people descended from Ashkenazi Jews; Multiple system atrophy: consists of the most severe type, in which the symptoms are similar to Parkinson's disease and tend to get worse over time; Autonomic dysreflexia: mainly affects people who have had a spinal cord injury.
Another type of dysautonomia is the autonomic diabetic neuropathy that occurs due to the modifications caused by diabetes and affect the nerves that control the heart, leading to the emergence of problems to regulate body temperature, blood glucose, blood pressure, and the functioning of the bladder. and it can also cause erectile dysfunction. Find out how autonomic neuropathy is treated.
How the treatment is done
Dysautonomia is a serious disease and has no cure, so the treatment is based on supportive measures and for the relief of symptoms that can be done through physiotherapy sessions to strengthen the movement of the body, activities with speech therapy, if the person have difficulty swallowing and therapy with a psychologist to help the person deal with this condition.
In some cases, as dysautonomia causes loss of balance and drop in blood pressure, the doctor may recommend that the person drink more than 2 liters of water a day, eat a high salt diet and use medications such as fludrocortisone.
