Dysautonomia — have you ever heard of it? The chances are you haven’t, because although it’s not especially rare, dysautonomia is a little-known condition even amongst medical professionals, and it’s often misdiagnosed because its symptoms are commonly found in other illnesses. In fact, many sufferers wait months or years for a definitive diagnosis, sometimes being told that “it’s all in your head.” So what is dysautonomia disorder, and what are the symptoms?
Dysautonomia Explained
Dysautonomia disorder covers a range of several specific conditions that affect the automatic functions of the body, such as respiration, heart function, blood pressure, digestive system, and kidney function. Any bodily function that we don’t directly control can be affected by dysautonomia disorder, with each specific kind having its own symptoms. However, some symptoms are shared by several types.
Different Forms of Dysautonomia Disorder
There are many forms of dysautonomia disorder, some common and some very rare, which often makes it difficult to reach a clear diagnosis.
1. Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS)
This is the commonest type of dysautonomia, causing spells of dizziness and fainting. It can be quite mild, but in severe cases the patient may faint repeatedly throughout the day, sometimes sustaining injuries such as broken bones or bruising. Naturally, if you’re badly affected, it can impact significantly on your quality of life.
2. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
This form of dysautonomia is probably the best known, as it’s received some publicity in recent years due to several celebrities receiving a diagnosis. It mainly affects teenagers (around 1 in 100), and young women are more likely to have it than men. This type also creates dizziness and fainting, along with other problems such as chronic fatigue. Perhaps because of the age of the average patient, it’s frequently misdiagnosed as “teenage problems.”
3. Familial Dysautonomia (FS)
FS is a genetic form of dysautonomia that is found in people of Jewish Ashkenazi descent.
4. Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
Older people (generally over 40) can suffer from MSA, which is a degenerative form of the condition. Patients with MSA will become bedridden, usually within two years of the onset, and life expectancy is around 5-10 years. However, this kind of dysautonomia disorder is rare, only affecting around 350,000 people worldwide.
5. Secondary Dysautonomia
Sometimes dysautonomia is triggered by an underlying chronic condition such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or Parkinson’s disease. Often, the best way to improve symptoms from secondary dysautonomia is to manage the underlying condition effectively.
Symptoms of Dysautonomia
Although the exact symptoms of dysautonomia disorder depend on the specific type, patients generally suffer from several key problems. Dizziness, light-headedness, and fainting spells are all common—often, patients gain relief from lying down but are affected when they stand up or their head is raised. Persistent debilitating fatigue is another common feature, as well as heart problems and low blood pressure. The digestive system can be affected, sometimes with devastating impact, and eye functions (e.g. tear formation and pupil dilation) can malfunction. The kidneys and liver can also stop working properly.
Treatment for Dysautonomia
Depending on the exact form of dysautonomia that is diagnosed, there are several ways to tackle the symptoms. Following a high sodium diet often works wonders for POTS patients, because it helps the body retain fluid and increases the volume of blood circulating around the body. Some people find that it helps to elevate the head of their bed, and medication can sometimes be used to reduce the symptoms. Ultimately, however, there’s no treatment that can banish the problem altogether—every patient is affected differently, any medication has to be carefully tailored to match the person, and a long period of trial and error is often needed to reach an effective solution.
The Prognosis for Those with Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia is currently incurable. Although managing the symptoms of those with the MSA form is helpful, it is ultimately terminal. However, most teenagers grow out of the POTS form by their mid-twenties, although it may occasionally return throughout their life.
Now that dysautonomia is gaining a higher profile, medical professionals are more likely to recognize it. But it can only be diagnosed by a series of tests that are sometimes difficult to access. If you feel you have symptoms of dysautonomia disorder that aren’t linked to another condition, it may be worth mentioning this concern to your family doctor.
Very Much Helpful and ince Information Thanks
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