What is Dysautonomia?

Understanding the Autonomic Nervous System

Have you ever wondered how we don’t have to consciously think about breathing? – our bodies just do it automatically for us. Same thing with our hearts beating. 

To understand Dysautonomia, it’s essential to understand the autonomic nervous system (ANS) – the system that controls your body without you having to consciously think about it. The autonomic nervous system is a crucial component of your overall nervous system, responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions essential for survival. It manages processes that operate without your conscious awareness, whether you are awake or asleep. 

Some examples of functions your body performs automatically thanks to the autonomic nervous system are –  

• Heart rate 
• Breathing 
• Digestion
• Respiration
• Sexual arousal
• Blood pressure

A simple example involves the decision to go for a walk, which is a deliberate choice engaging the motor part of your nervous system. As you walk, your heart rate increases and your blood pressure elevates to supply your muscles with the necessary oxygen — these are automatic responses controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System. 

Now imagine if these automatic functions didn’t work as they should. This disruption in the body’s ability to perform these involuntary actions is known as Dysautonomia, a malfunction (or imbalance) in the Autonomic Nervous System. Other names for Dysautonomia are – 

• autonomic nervous system dysfunction
• autonomic dysfunction
• autonomic neuropathy

At The Spero Clinic, many patients come to us experiencing these irregularities, often unaware that their autonomic nervous system, which should seamlessly control these functions, is out of balance. 

Dysautonomia presents a range of symptoms from mild to severe, making it a complex condition to understand and manage. It’s common among patients at The Spero Clinic, especially those dealing with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), among other neurological disorders. 

At The Spero Clinic, we are committed to illuminating this misunderstood condition and providing effective, personalized care to heal from within – No bandaid approach! Your body is amazing and capable of healing. 

Symptoms of Dysautonomia

Dysautonomia’s symptoms vary widely among individuals but typically affect multiple bodily systems:

• Cardiovascular: 
  • Light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting (especially with standing up)
  • Heart palpitations
  • Chest pain
  • Fluctuations in heart rate 
  • Racing heart – High heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Low heart rate (bradycardia)
  • High and/or low blood pressure
• Gastrointestinal: 
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
• Neurological: 
  • Brain fog
  • Migraines or headaches
• Respiratory: 
  • Shortness of breath 
  • rapid breathing.
• Thermoregulatory: 
  • Inability to regulate body temperature, resulting in excessive sweating or chills.
• Others: 
  • Fatigue 
  • Mood swings and/or anxiety
  • Sleep disturbances 
  • Sound or light sensitivity
  • Exercise intolerance
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Runny nose
  • Vertigo

Causes & Associated Conditions with Dysautonomia

Dysautonomia arises from disruptions within the autonomic nervous system, which can be due to various factors, often linked to other neurological or systemic disorders. At The Spero Clinic, we frequently see Dysautonomia associated with conditions such as CRPS, EDS, Long Covid, POTS, and more. 

Some examples of conditions that can cause or contribute to dysautonomia are – 

• Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)
• Long COVID
• Fibromyalgia
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
• Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS)
• Chronic Epstein-Barr (or Mononucleosis)
• Gastroparesis
• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
• Lupus
• Lyme Disease

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Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) & Dysautonomia –

CRPS is associated with imbalance and malfunction of the autonomic nervous system resulting in disability, impairment, very severe chronic pain, and functional loss, and it usually affects an extremity or limb after an injury or trauma. 

Our patients, for whatever reason, (most of the time it is chronic viral infections or childhood trauma) had an imbalanced nervous system prior to developing CRPS. The triggering event is not the cause of the CRPS – it’s just the “straw that broke the camel’s back” allowing symptoms to appear.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) & Dysautonomia  – 

A group of disorders affecting connective tissues, primarily the skin, bones, blood vessels, and many internal organs. The widespread impact on the body’s structural integrity affects how the autonomic nervous system communicates, causing symptoms of dysautonomia. We have found that for some EDS symptoms to express itself, dysautonomia has to be present. 

Two types of EDS we see – Vascular EDS and Hypermobile EDS (HEDS).

Long COVID & Dysautonomia  – 

A clear pattern exists of viral infections, such as COVID-19, triggering underlying genetic conditions associated with dysautonomia to become symptomatically expressed. Long COVID increasingly appears to be connected to neurologic damage, and its most disabling symptoms are neurological (for example, cognitive dysfunction, pain, and autonomic nerve dysfunction.)

Our program has long focused on the neurologic damage done by viral infections. While the SARS-CoV-2 virus is new, the way it affects the nervous system is not. It appears to follow the same path of destruction as other viruses, affecting the central nervous system. This is what our program targets in a holistic whole-body approach. 

Fibromyalgia & Dysautonomia – 

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes the patient to experience chronic musculoskeletal pain, affecting the entire body. The pain is known to “jump” from area to area, along with severe, chronic fatigue, sleep disruptions, and many other unique and complex characteristics caused by the body living in a state of “fight or flight”.

This refers to the body running in a continuous loop in the subconscious mind. Evidence shows us that injuries, illnesses, or other major stressors in the body can overwhelm the brain and CNS. Thus, causing different symptoms of dysautonomia, often seen in patients with Fibromyalgia.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) – 

POTS is a type of dysautonomia that occurs when the nervous system fails to regulate blood flow and pressure properly. Thus, causing major heart rate and blood pressure changes upon standing. Normally, the autonomic nervous system in your body regulates your heart rate and blood pressure to maintain a steady flow of blood, regardless of your body’s position.

However, if you suffer from POTS, your body cannot manage the necessary coordination between blood vessel constriction and heart rate adjustment. As a result, your blood pressure fails to remain consistent and stable.

Neurological Rehabilitation with the Spero Clinic

Understanding the underlying causes and recognizing the symptoms are crucial steps toward healing the symptoms of dysautonomia effectively from within. 

At Spero Clinic, our approach is focused on neurological rehabilitation and the restoration of how the autonomic nervous system functions and communicates with the rest of the body. 

Dr Katinka’s non-invasive combination treatment that focuses on rebalancing the autonomic nervous system including the vagus nerve may offer pain relief and improved function for some chronic pain patients including CRPS patients. 

The Role of the Vagus Nerve

What is the Vagus Nerve? 

The Vagus Nerve, often referred to as the “wandering nerve,” is the tenth cranial nerve and a primary parasympathetic nerve originating directly from the brain rather than the spinal cord. This nerve is one of twelve cranial nerve pairs and features extensive branches that extend from two thick stems rooted in the cerebellum and brainstem.

These branches spread throughout the body to the lowest parts of the abdomen, reaching vital organs like the heart, lungs, and most others up to the transverse colon—excluding the adrenal glands. 

The vagus nerve is a critical component of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), playing a central role in parasympathetic control. This means it helps to regulate many of the body’s automatic functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.

The Vagus Nerve is crucial for a variety of functions, including but not limited to:

• heart rate
• digestion
• sweating
• speech
• coughing
• fainting
• vomiting
• sleep

In the context of Dysautonomia, the vagus nerve’s function is especially significant because it can influence the balance between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) systems.

Disruptions in the normal functioning of the vagus nerve can lead to symptoms of Dysautonomia. For example, if the vagus nerve’s ability to regulate heart rate is compromised, this may result in episodes of unusually slow heart rates or fast heart rates. Similarly, its role in digestion can manifest as gastroparesis when dysfunctional, a common complaint among those with Dysautonomia.

Dysautonomia Treatment Modalities at the Spero Clinic

Our treatment process is not focused on managing or suppressing pain. This is because we don’t feel like that approach is a permanent sustainable solution. 

At the Spero Clinic, we focus on holistic, non-invasive therapies designed to address the underlying causes of Dysautonomia, including vagus nerve dysfunction. Our treatment approaches may include vagus nerve stimulation, neuromuscular re-education with patented technology, magnetic resonance technology, viral and bacterial analysis, and treatments, and liver detoxification.

These modalities are designed to enhance one another synergistically to restore balance to the central nervous system. When the nervous system is given the tools that it needs to achieve a state of balance once again, signs and symptoms of dysautonomia tend to resolve. 

Ultimately, the goal of our treatment is to rehabilitate the Central Nervous System, allowing the body to heal from within.

You are not broken beyond repair. Your body is amazing and capable of healing!

Contact us via our online form or call (479) 304-8202 to speak with our team on how we can help.

FAQs

What are the symptoms of Dysautonomia?

• Symptoms can vary widely but often include fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure, digestive issues, fatigue, dizziness, and temperature regulation problems.

How is Dysautonomia diagnosed?

• Diagnosis typically involves a detailed medical history, physical examination, and specialized tests that assess the autonomic nervous system functions, such as heart rate variability and tilt table tests.

What treatment options are available at the Spero Clinic?

• We offer a range of non-invasive, holistic therapies tailored to each patient’s specific needs. These include physical therapies, dietary adjustments, and innovative treatments. Learn more about our treatments here.