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Autonomic Neuropathy Symptoms

Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms that manifest when the nerves regulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are damaged. Part of the peripheral nervous system, the autonomic nervous system controls vital internal organs such as the cardiovascular system, digestive tract, bladder muscles, perspiration and genital organs. They function automatically and are not under an individual's conscious control. Although autonomic neuropathy affects vital organs and patients experience chronic discomfort, the condition is seldom life-threatening. Symptoms develop gradually over a period of years,range from mild to severe, and vary based on the specific nerves that are affected.

  1. Cardiovascular Symptoms

    • Damage to the nerves that control the cardiovascular system is one of the most common groups of symptoms of autonomic neuropathy. Body temperature and blood pressure abnormalities are the primary complaints of those afflicted with this disorder. For example, patients may complain of dizziness and fainting due to a sudden drop in blood pressure on standing. Another variation of this disorder is the body's inability to sweat when the skin's blood vessels do not effectively dilate to reduce body heat. This can lead to overheating and heat stroke. In other cases, ANS nerve damage causes instances of extreme perspiration while eating or sleeping. Exercise intolerance affects patients whose heart rates do not change when they should increase or decrease in response to activity level.

    Bladder Dysfunction Symptoms

    • Autonomic neuropathy sufferers may also experience difficulty emptying their bladder exhibited by difficulty beginning urination, feeling that elimination is not complete or urinary incontinence. These symptoms may lead to chronic urinary tract infections.

    Gastrointestinal Symptoms

    • A variety of symptoms result from nerve damage to the digestive system that manifests as gastroparesis (difficulty digesting food). Symptoms range from loss of appetite to diarrhea, constipation, distended abdomen, unintentional weight loss, heartburn, feeling full after eating very little, nausea and vomiting. Damage may occur throughout the digestive tract from the esophagus to the large intestine and colon. For example, nerve damage to the esophagus may affect the ability to swallow while damage to the intestines may cause diarrhea.

    Blood Sugar Symptoms

    • ANS patients may not display the typical warning signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) including sweating, shakiness and palpitations. This will make related health conditions such as diabetes more difficult to manage.

    Other Symptoms

    • Other sufferers of autonomic neuropathy may experience an additional range of symptoms depending on the nerves affected. One example is problems with eye pupil performance. These patients' pupils experience a delayed reaction to changes in darkness versus light. Another example is sexual difficulties including ejaculation or erectile dysfunction issues in men, and arousal or orgasm difficulties and vaginal dryness in women.

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