Dysautonomia
Other Names: Autonomic Dysfunction, Familial Dysautonomia,
Riley-Day Syndrome
Dysautonomia is a term used for
any disorder of the autonomic nervous system (ANS),
the nervous system that controls many of the body's
involuntary functions. Dysautonomia is a break down
of the ANS. Dysautonomia can cause excessive fatigue,
thirst, vertigo, anxiety, abnormal heart rhythm, headaches,
visual disturbances and other symptoms. Symptoms can
vary widely case-to-case, depending on the underlying
cause, health factors, age factors and genetics.
It can be a primary or secondary condition. If the
ANS is the only system affected, then it is a primary
condition. As a secondary condition, Dysautonomia
is often associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome
(an acute and progressive autoimmune form of Dysautonomia),
Diabetes, Alcoholism and Parkinson's Disease. Causes
of Dysautonomia are believed to be autoimmune disorders
(especially Diabetes), viral illness, brain injury,
hereditary diseases, physical trauma to name a few.
There is no cure for Dysautonomia, but it can be stabilized
Symptoms:
Abnormal heart rhythm
Anxiety
Blurry vision
Excessive sweating
Fainting
Fast heartbeat
Fatigue
General joint pain and stiffness
Headaches
Low blood pressure
Thirst
Vertigo
Diagnosis:
A “tilt-table” test is usually performed
to properly diagnose Dysautonomia, in which the physician
can measure how the patient's blood pressure responds.
Blood tests may also show Elevated Catecholamines
Treatment:
Treating Dysautonomia can be difficult since symptoms
and the overall effect on a patients vary. A treatment
may be successful for one patient, yet fail another.
Most treatments aim at relieving the symptoms. Secondary
Dysautonomia is usually improved once the underlying
condition is treated effectively.
Medications can also be use to stabilize Dysautonomia
long-term, and lifestyle adjustments such as elevating
the head of the bed, eating smaller and frequent meals,
high-salt diet, lots of fluids and compression stockings
can be used to combat the symptoms.
Anti-anxiety medications may be used to treat the
anxiety associated with Dysautonomia.
Prognosis:
Most forms of Dysautonomia resolve within 2-3 years
and are not life threatening, however those suffering
from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome or Parkinson's
disease have a poor long-term prognosis as these are
progressive forms of dysautonomia.
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