Dysautonomia is a condition where the autonomic nervous system, which regulates unconscious bodily functions like heart rate and digestion, does not work properly. Common causes include diabetes, nerve damage, aging, and multiple sclerosis. Signs may include fatigue, nausea, dizziness, abnormal heart rate and blood pressure. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is a common associated disorder where patients feel dizzy when changing posture. Diagnosis involves tests like tilt table tests and treatment focuses on managing symptoms pharmacologically or through lifestyle changes.

1. Dysautonomia
NS Module
Karrar Raafat Arif

2. Objectives:
 List main basic points about
ANS(anatomy&function).
 Define dysautonomia in simple terms.
 Identify the main causes of dysautonomia.
 Identify the signs and symptoms of patient with
dysautonomia.
 Illustrate the most common disorders associate
with dysautonomia.
 Illustate some clinical & diagnostic features.

3. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
 is a division of the peripheral nervous system that
supplies smooth muscle and glands.
 It is regulated by hypothalamus
 It acts unconsciously and controls bodily
functions such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory
rate, pupillary response, urination.(functionally)
 Subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous systems.

4. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
Anatomically:
 Lower brainstem
1. Sympathetic
(L3- T1)
1. Parasympathetic
(S2-S4)
Cranial nerves 3,7,9,10

6. What is Dysautonomia?
 Dys : referring to dysfunction.
 Autonomia : referring to the ANS.
SO, It is a condition in which the autonomic
nervous system (ANS) does not work properly.
Break it down!

7. What are the causes of dysautonomia ?
 These are:
• Diabetes
• peripheral nerve damage
• Aging
• Parkinson disease
• Alcoholism.
• Multiple sclerosis(MS).
• HIV and AIDS.
• Spinal cord disorders.
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
• Certain drugs.

8. Signs and symptoms
 Fatigue.
 Nausea with GI dysmotility like constipation.
 light-headedness.
 Dizziness.
 Tachycardia.
 Almost hypotention.
 Hyperthermia.
 Decreased sweating.
 Anxiety.
 Syncope and e.t.c.
A patient with dysautonomia can present to clinic with some manifestations:

9. Most common types disorders associates with
:
dysautonomia
 Postural orthostatic tachycardia
syndrome(POTs) which also called orthostatic
hypotension.
 Parkinson disease

10. *POTs patients can barely change there posture without feeling dizzy.

12. Diagnosis
 There are some certain tests can be provided
mainly by a neurologist:
 Valsava maneuver:
is a medial examination as test of cardial
function and ANS
Mainly heart rate will inrease

14. Diagnosis
 Tilt table test :
- in which heart rate
increased.
- Elevate back of
Patient from
(0%-30%)

15. Other tests..
 Urine test.
 Thermoregulatory sweat test.
 Patient history .
 Many other tests as well.

16. Management & treatment
 Pharmalogical :
• Atropine can be used for both prevention and.
• Topical anesthemanagementsia can really
redue the reflex
• Vasopressors injections for hypotension.

17. Iv saline
Exercise
Physical
activity
Cooling
vests
wheelchair
canes
Non pharmacological factors :

18. epidemiology
 Occurs in females > males about 5:1
in 1999 .
 It may follows flulike illness,limited
autoimmune disease,surgery or
injury,pregnancy,rapid growth spurt.
 Eating disorders ,hot wheather
worsening

19. Summary
 ANS regulates unconsciously bodily function
necessary for our life.
 Vagus n.(CNX) controls these body functions
almost all.
 Dysautonomia is a condition in which the
autonomic nervous system (ANS) does not work
properly.
 Symptoms of abnormal autonomic-nervous-
system function occur commonly in Parkinson’s
disease (PD). Orthostatic hypotension.