October Is Dysautonomia Awareness Month
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

October Is Dysautonomia Awareness Month

Join me in raising awareness!

4748
October Is Dysautonomia Awareness Month
Kelly Braun

Have you ever heard of Dysautonomia? What about POTS?

Chances are, you probably have not.

October is Dysautonomia Awareness Month.

Dysautonomia is a broad term that describes medical conditions which cause a malfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System. Basically, this means the things you have no control over - such as: heart, bladder, intestines, sweat, blood vessels, etc. - are being affected.

The form of dysautonomia I have is POTS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. I was diagnosed with POTS in 2015, but I started having symptoms years before that. When a person with POTS goes from sitting to standing, heart rate will increase by at least 30 beats per minute due to improper blood flow with the position change. This is done with a test called a Tilt-Table Test, which is meant to recreate a person's symptoms, and ultimately lead to a diagnosis.

Common symptoms that a person with POTS experiences on a regular basis are:

-Rapid heartbeat

-Shortness of breath

-Visual disturbances, such as blurry vision

-Dizziness

-Chest pain/tightness

-Migraine

-Fatigue

-Fainting

-Adrenaline rushes

-Anxiety

-Tremors

-Heat intolerance

-Brain fog

-GI issues

The degree of severity of the symptoms depends on the person. Symptoms worsen when a person is under any form of stress, has a virus, is dehydrated, and more.

***

Dysautonomia may not be well-known to the public, but it is definitely NOT rare.

In fact, I personally know many people that live with some form of dysautonomia. Between 1 and 3 million Americans live with POTS. 1 in every 100 teenagers have POTS - So, for every college lecture, that's at least 1 person living with POTS.

Dysautonomia is an invisible illness. Many people with dysautonomia look completely healthy on the outside; they often get misdiagnosed with other conditions, such as anxiety disorders. As you can see from the symptoms listed, many symptoms do overlap with anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. However, dysautonomia symptoms are much more frequent and severe, which is a major reason why it is so difficult to reach a diagnosis. On average, it usually takes someone 2 to 3 years to reach a diagnosis. I have noticed that many doctors are definitely becoming more familiar with dysautonomia over just the last 2 years, but not enough.

There is not a specific cause of POTS. Studies have shown that it can follow a virus, can coexist with other conditions, such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and autoimmune diseases, and it can even come out of nowhere. Some people grow out of dysautonomia, but many do not.

There are some medications, such as beta blockers, Florinef, Midodrine, etc. as well as lifestyle changes, such as increasing fluid and salt intake that can help relieve some of the symptoms of POTS. However, there is unfortunately no cure.



We need to raise awareness for dysautonomia. It takes people so long to get diagnosed, which not only affects their physical symptoms, but also plays a toll on their mental health since nobody can figure out what is wrong with them! Imagine being sick for years, and going from doctor to doctor without anybody being able to figure out what the heck is wrong with you. It is not fair at all. I hope that over the next few years, health professionals will become better educated with dysautonomia to help diagnose people earlier, and to ultimately find a cure for these conditions.



#Dysautonomia #StandingUpToPOTS

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51496
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33058
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956046
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180990
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments