The effects of dysautonomia can be distressing, and the condition doesn’t usually cause abnormalities in the physical examination or laboratory tests.In general, it takes time to get a diagnosis of dysautonomia because other, more common conditions are typically considered first.
Risk factors for developing dysautonomia include diabetes, autoimmune disease, Parkinson’s disease, endocrine disorders, and more. There is a rarefamilial type of dysautonomiaas well.
Finding an effective treatment can also be challenging. It can take some time and a lot of patience from you and your healthcare provider to find the right combination of therapies to get your symptoms under acceptable control.
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Diagnosing Dysautonomia
The diagnosis of dysautonomia is based on the symptoms and medical history, a physical examination, and possiblydiagnostic tests. You may have tests to assess positional changes in your blood pressure and heart rate, the function of your digestive system, and more.
For example:
These conditions are more common than dysautonomia. Sometimes, having more than one effect of a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system leads to a diagnosis of dysautonomia.
Diagnosing and Treating Dysautonomia
If you think you may have dysautonomia, discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider.
Treating Dysautonomia
You and your healthcare provider will need to take the prolonged trial-and-error approach as you begin using therapies to reduce your symptoms to a tolerable level.
Since the underlying cause of dysautonomia is not well understood, treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms and is not typically effective at curing the problem.
Non-Drug Therapies
Maintaining an adequate daily level of physical activity is important for people with dysautonomia.Regular physical activity helps stabilize the autonomic nervous system, and in the long run, makes symptoms less frequent, less severe, and of shorter duration.
Physical therapy and alternative treatments such as yoga, tai-chi, massage therapy, and stretching therapy have been reported to help as well.
Dietary Supplements:Supplements have not been shown to help prevent or reduce symptoms of dysautonomia.
Drug Therapies
Pharmaceutical treatment is sometimes prescribed for treating dysautonomia and associated symptoms.
Treatments include:
The tricyclics and the SSRIs appear to do more than merely control depression that might accompany the dysautonomias. There is some evidence that they might help to “re-balance” the autonomic nervous systems in some patients.
A Word From Verywell
If you have dysautonomia, it’s important for you to know that dysautonomia usually improves with time. Research is progressing to define the precise causes and mechanisms of these conditions and to devise effective treatments.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.gov.Autonomic nervous system disorders.Harden RN, Oaklander AL, Burton AW, et al.Complex regional pain syndrome: practical diagnostic and treatment guidelines.Pain Med. 2013;14(2):180-229. doi:10.1111/pme.12033MedlinePlus.Chronic fatigue syndrome/systemic exertion intolerance disease.Cleveland Clinic.Vasovagal syncope.Cleveland Clinic.Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).MedlinePlus.Fibromyalgia.Khurana RK.Visceral sensitization in postural tachycardia syndrome.Clin Auton Res. 2014;24(2):71-6. doi:10.1007/s10286-014-0227-0Dysautonomia International.Research update: more proof POTS is not “all in your head.“Cleveland Clinic.Dysautonomia.Dysautonomia International.Exercises for Dysautonomia Patients.Kizilbash SJ, Ahrens SP, Bruce BK, et al.Adolescent fatigue, POTS, and recovery: a guide for clinicians.Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2014;44(5):108-33. doi:10.1016/j.cppeds.2013.12.014Cleveland Clinic.Living with dysautonomia.Abed H, Ball PA, Wang LX.Diagnosis and management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: a brief review.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2012;9(1):61-7. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1263.2012.00061
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.gov.Autonomic nervous system disorders.Harden RN, Oaklander AL, Burton AW, et al.Complex regional pain syndrome: practical diagnostic and treatment guidelines.Pain Med. 2013;14(2):180-229. doi:10.1111/pme.12033MedlinePlus.Chronic fatigue syndrome/systemic exertion intolerance disease.Cleveland Clinic.Vasovagal syncope.Cleveland Clinic.Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).MedlinePlus.Fibromyalgia.Khurana RK.Visceral sensitization in postural tachycardia syndrome.Clin Auton Res. 2014;24(2):71-6. doi:10.1007/s10286-014-0227-0Dysautonomia International.Research update: more proof POTS is not “all in your head.“Cleveland Clinic.Dysautonomia.Dysautonomia International.Exercises for Dysautonomia Patients.Kizilbash SJ, Ahrens SP, Bruce BK, et al.Adolescent fatigue, POTS, and recovery: a guide for clinicians.Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2014;44(5):108-33. doi:10.1016/j.cppeds.2013.12.014Cleveland Clinic.Living with dysautonomia.Abed H, Ball PA, Wang LX.Diagnosis and management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: a brief review.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2012;9(1):61-7. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1263.2012.00061
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.gov.Autonomic nervous system disorders.Harden RN, Oaklander AL, Burton AW, et al.Complex regional pain syndrome: practical diagnostic and treatment guidelines.Pain Med. 2013;14(2):180-229. doi:10.1111/pme.12033MedlinePlus.Chronic fatigue syndrome/systemic exertion intolerance disease.Cleveland Clinic.Vasovagal syncope.Cleveland Clinic.Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).MedlinePlus.Fibromyalgia.Khurana RK.Visceral sensitization in postural tachycardia syndrome.Clin Auton Res. 2014;24(2):71-6. doi:10.1007/s10286-014-0227-0Dysautonomia International.Research update: more proof POTS is not “all in your head.“Cleveland Clinic.Dysautonomia.Dysautonomia International.Exercises for Dysautonomia Patients.Kizilbash SJ, Ahrens SP, Bruce BK, et al.Adolescent fatigue, POTS, and recovery: a guide for clinicians.Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2014;44(5):108-33. doi:10.1016/j.cppeds.2013.12.014Cleveland Clinic.Living with dysautonomia.Abed H, Ball PA, Wang LX.Diagnosis and management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: a brief review.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2012;9(1):61-7. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1263.2012.00061
MedlinePlus.gov.Autonomic nervous system disorders.
Harden RN, Oaklander AL, Burton AW, et al.Complex regional pain syndrome: practical diagnostic and treatment guidelines.Pain Med. 2013;14(2):180-229. doi:10.1111/pme.12033
MedlinePlus.Chronic fatigue syndrome/systemic exertion intolerance disease.
Cleveland Clinic.Vasovagal syncope.
Cleveland Clinic.Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
MedlinePlus.Fibromyalgia.
Khurana RK.Visceral sensitization in postural tachycardia syndrome.Clin Auton Res. 2014;24(2):71-6. doi:10.1007/s10286-014-0227-0
Dysautonomia International.Research update: more proof POTS is not “all in your head.”
Cleveland Clinic.Dysautonomia.
Dysautonomia International.Exercises for Dysautonomia Patients.
Kizilbash SJ, Ahrens SP, Bruce BK, et al.Adolescent fatigue, POTS, and recovery: a guide for clinicians.Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2014;44(5):108-33. doi:10.1016/j.cppeds.2013.12.014
Cleveland Clinic.Living with dysautonomia.
Abed H, Ball PA, Wang LX.Diagnosis and management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: a brief review.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2012;9(1):61-7. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1263.2012.00061
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