Understanding Dysautonomia: From the Brain to the Body, How It Relates to POTS and What You Need to Know

What is Dysautonomia?

Do you ever feel like your body is going haywire? Do you sometimes feel dizzy or lightheaded when standing up? Have you ever experienced a racing heart, sweating, or nausea out of nowhere? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might be familiar with dysautonomia - a fancy term for a group of disorders that affect the autonomic nervous system.

Now, if you have POTS symptoms, then dysautonomia is something you definitely need to know more about. So, let's break it down in a way that even your grandma can understand.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls your body's automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature regulation. It's like the air traffic controller of your body, making sure all the planes (i.e., organs and systems) are taking off and landing on time. Dysautonomia happens when the ANS malfunctions, causing a wide range of symptoms that can affect your quality of life.

In POTS, one type of dysautonomia, the ANS can display symptoms such as overreaction to standing up, leading to a sudden increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This can cause dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and brain fog, to name a few.

How do I know if I have Dysautonomia?

So, you suspect you may have dysautonomia and want to get tested. First, you'll want to find a specialist who can help you out. This can be easier said than done, as dysautonomia is a relatively rare condition, and not all doctors are familiar with it.

Once you find a specialist, they may recommend a variety of tests to help diagnose your condition. One common test is the tilt table test, where you lie on a table that slowly tilts upward. This allows doctors to monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs as your body responds to the change in position.

Another test you may encounter is the sweat test, where a doctor applies electrodes to your skin to measure your body's ability to produce sweat. This is important because people with dysautonomia may have trouble sweating properly, which can lead to problems with regulating body temperature.

Other tests may include blood tests to check for underlying conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, or tests to measure how well your body is handling different stressors, such as standing or exercise.

It's important to note that testing for dysautonomia can be a lengthy and sometimes frustrating process. It may take time to find the right specialist and to get a proper diagnosis. However, once you have a diagnosis, you can begin to work with your doctor to find the best treatment plan for you.

In the meantime, there are some things you can do to help manage your symptoms. This may include staying well-hydrated, eating salt rich meals, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding triggers that make your symptoms worse.

Remember, having dysautonomia is not a life sentence. With the right care and management, many people with dysautonomia are able to lead happy and fulfilling lives.

To add further complexity to this, there are different types of POTS that may be harder to identify. Hyperadrenergic POTS, or "Hyper POTS", is a type of POTS that is characterized by an excess of adrenaline in the body. People with Hyper POTS often have very high levels of norepinephrine, which is a neurotransmitter that regulates heart rate and blood pressure. This excess of adrenaline can cause a wide range of symptoms, including palpitations, anxiety, and tremors. Hyper POTS is thought to be caused by a malfunction of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body's "fight or flight" response.

This dysfunction can lead to an overactive response, resulting in the excessive release of adrenaline. Treatment for Hyper POTS often involves medications to regulate the levels of norepinephrine and adrenaline in the body, as well as lifestyle changes to manage symptoms. Understanding dysautonomia is crucial to managing POTS because it helps you identify the root cause of your symptoms.

By recognizing the triggers that set off your ANS, you can learn how to avoid or manage them. With the right treatment plan, you can take back control of your life and live it to the fullest.