How to Identify Dysautonomia

Dysautonomia is a malfunction or imbalance of the automatic nervous system. Systems that may be affected include digestive, skeletal, respiratory and cardiovascular. The symptoms of dysautonomia vary widely and often appear to be unrelated. A person with dysautonomia may appear to be physically normal, making identification difficult. There is also no one valid treatment for dysautonomia. The cause is unknown and, therefore, the symptoms, not the condition itself, are treated. Below are symptoms and ways to identify dysautonomia.

Instructions

How to Identify Dysautonomia

• 1

  Check the eyes. Some symptoms of dysautonomia include dry eyes, lack of tears, optic atrophy, corneal wounds that do not heal well or strabismus (the eyes do not correctly line up with each other).

• 2

  Check the mouth. There may be early tooth loss. There may also be a lack of fungiform papilla. These are the small protrusions on the tongue that contain the taste buds. Therefore, the tongue may be unusually smooth.

• 3

  Pay attention to the stomach and intestines. There may be episodes of vomiting, reflux, constipation or diarrhea.

• 4

  Check respiratory functioning. A possible symptom is recurrent pnuemonia. A person with dysautonomia may also not be able to tolerate lower levels of oxygen.

• 5

  Pay attention to kidney functioning. There may be dehydration, poor kidney functioning or renal failure.

• 6

  Pay attention to the nervous system. Some symptoms of dysautonomia may be a decreased ability to feel pain, hypotonia (a decrease in muscle tone), decrease in reflexes, inability to coordinate muscle movements, dizziness, seizures and passing out.

• 7

  Check the skeletal system. Possible symptoms of dysautonomia are scoliosis (the spine curving from one side to another), kyphosis (curvature of the upper spine), neuropathic joints (loss of sensation in the joint) and the inability to feel fractures.

• 8

  Check the skin. Symptoms may include skin blotching when eating or when excited, excessive sweating, and poor healing of cuts and wounds.

• 9

  Pay attention to the heart and cardiovascular system. People who have dysautonomia may have periods of a fast heart rate, high blood pressure or low blood pressure.