Have you ever had this happen to you? When you suddenly stand up from a chair, your vision goes black, your head feels dizzy , or your chest suddenly starts pounding and you start sweating for no apparent reason. While we may think these things are normal, sometimes these symptoms can be caused by a malfunction in one of our body's most important control systems. Today, we're going to talk about a condition called dysautonomia, which many people don't know about, but is quite common.
What exactly is Dysautonomia?
Simply put, dysautonomia is a general name for a group of medical conditions that result from dysfunction of our body's Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) .
Now you might be wondering what the autonomic nervous system is. Think about it, things like your heart beating, your breathing, your digestion, your body temperature, your blood pressure, etc., are not things you have to think about. They happen automatically, like on auto-pilot. That's how the autonomic nervous system controls the essential processes in our body without us even realizing it.
So, when the nerves in this system don't work properly, the things that should happen automatically start to go wrong. That's what we call dysautonomia . It's not as rare as you might think. More than 70 million people worldwide have this condition. Also, recent research has found that people who live with persistent symptoms after they have COVID - 19 are at higher risk of developing dysautonomia.
What are the main types and symptoms of this condition?
There are about 15 types of dysautonomia. Sometimes a person can have more than one type at the same time. Let's look at some of the most common types.
| Dysautonomia Type | Common Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) | This is the most common type. Symptoms include a rapid heart rate when standing up from a sitting position, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and difficulty exercising. |
| Orthostatic hypotension (OH) | The body's inability to control blood pressure when standing up. Symptoms include dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, nausea, weakness, and chest tightness. |
| Vasovagal syncope (VVS) | This is a sudden loss of consciousness (fainting). This is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate. Before fainting, you may experience cold sweats, nausea, a feeling of heat, and blue eyes. |
| Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) | A heart rate that increases to more than 100 beats per minute without any reason, even when at rest. The main symptom is chest pain. It can also be accompanied by fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. |
In addition to these main types, there are other rare types such as autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG), baroreflex failure (BF), familial dysautonomia (FD), pure autonomic failure (PAF), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Their symptoms and severity vary.
The important thing is that these symptoms may not be visible on the outside. So when someone says "I'm tired" or "I feel dizzy," don't just assume that it's something they're saying. There may be a medical reason behind it.
The connection between COVID-19 and Dysautonomia
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the conversation about dysautonomia increased even more, as many people who recovered from COVID, especially those suffering from (Long COVID), began to experience symptoms of dysautonomia.
Research has found that between 30% and 67% of people with (Long COVID) have dysautonomia. The most commonly reported of these is the condition we discussed earlier, POTS .
Experts believe that the damage to body tissues caused by the Covid virus, changes in the immune system, hormonal imbalances , etc. may be responsible for this. Also, some medications given in intensive care units (ICUs) can also affect the autonomic nervous system.
How to diagnose this disease?
If you have these symptoms, the first thing you should do is see an experienced doctor . The doctor will listen to your symptoms and examine you. Then, they may do some special tests to confirm whether you have this condition.
- Tilt Table Test: This is the most important test. In this test, you are placed on a special bed and connected to equipment that measures your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. The bed is then slowly tilted to an upright position. Your body's response to the change in position (how your heart rate and blood pressure change) is monitored.
- Other tests: In addition, breathing tests, sweat tests, blood tests, and tests such as ECG and Echo to check heart function may be performed.
What are the treatments for dysautonomia?
This is important to know. There is no cure for dysautonomia. However, that doesn't mean you have to suffer like this. There are many treatments and management options that can help control symptoms and make life easier.
Depending on your symptoms and the nature of your condition, your doctor may advise you to:
- Adding a little more salt to your diet: This can help control blood pressure . But you should definitely do this only after talking to your doctor. It is dangerous to consume too much salt without medical advice, especially if you have other conditions like high blood pressure.
- Drinking plenty of water throughout the day: This helps maintain good blood volume in the body.
- Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to increase blood pressure, such as Fludrocortisone and Midodrine . These should be used exactly as your doctor tells you.
- Changing your sleeping position: Elevating the head of the bed about 6-10 inches while sleeping can help control some symptoms.
- Wearing compression stockings: These reduce blood pooling in the legs and help with blood circulation.
- Exercise: An exercise program that starts slowly and is supervised by a doctor or physical therapist can be very beneficial.
Take-Home Message
- Dysautonomia is a real medical condition. It's not something you've imagined, or "bored." It's a problem with the body's autonomic control system.
- If you continue to experience symptoms such as dizziness when standing, extreme fatigue, and unexplained chest pain, don't be shy about it and talk to a doctor.
- If you start experiencing these symptoms after contracting COVID, don't forget to tell your doctor.
- Although there is no complete cure for this, there are many treatments that can help you control the symptoms and live a normal life.
- Do not self-diagnose or self-medicate based on what you read on the internet or hear from people. Always see a doctor and get proper advice.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න