Dysautonomia Affects More Than Heart Rate or Blood Pressure
Dysautonomia is commonly misunderstood as a condition that only affects heart rate or blood pressure—but in reality, it involves a much broader dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls critical, automatic processes throughout the entire body.
What Is the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for regulating many of the body’s involuntary functions, including:
Blood pressure and heart rate
Breathing and oxygen delivery
Digestion and motility
Body temperature regulation
Hormonal balance
Pupil dilation and constriction
Sweating and fluid balance
When the ANS isn’t functioning properly, as in dysautonomia, symptoms can appear across multiple organ systems—often unpredictably and with wide variation from person to person.
Common Types of Dysautonomia
There are many forms of dysautonomia, but the most well-known and frequently diagnosed is:
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS): Characterized by an abnormal increase in heart rate when moving from lying down to standing, along with symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and brain fog
Other types of dysautonomia include (but are not limited to):
Neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS)
Multiple system atrophy (MSA)
Pure autonomic failure (PAF)
Familial dysautonomia
Each type varies in severity and presentation, but all involve dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system.
Symptoms of Dysautonomia
Because the ANS touches nearly every system in the body, symptoms can be diverse and often mimic or overlap with other conditions. Some of the most commonly reported symptoms include:
Lightheadedness or dizziness, especially when standing
Fatigue and weakness
Heart palpitations or rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
Difficulty regulating temperature (feeling too hot or too cold)
Insomnia or disrupted sleep
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Shortness of breath
Nausea, bloating, or abdominal pain
Anxiety-like symptoms (without a mental health cause)
Headaches
These symptoms often fluctuate and can worsen with stress, heat, standing, exertion, or illness, among many other things—making daily activities unpredictable and exhausting.
Why Recognition Matters
Dysautonomia can be life-altering. Its impact on quality of life is often underestimated, especially because many symptoms are invisible or misunderstood.
Understanding that dysautonomia is a whole-body disorder is key to improving diagnosis and treatment. People living with dysautonomia often face years of misdiagnosis or dismissal—and greater awareness can help change that.
Dysautonomia isn’t only a fast heart rate or low blood pressure. It’s a complex condition that can affect every system in the body. Recognizing the full scope of its impact is the first step toward better care, understanding, and support.
Want more tips?
Subscribe to Dr. Gould’s Neurenity Notes Newsletter—a free, supportive newsletter filled with ideas and strategies for navigating life with POTS and other forms of dysautonomia, delivered to your inbox on a regular basis.
Download the Mini POTS Toolkit—a free guide created by Dr. Gould that breaks down frequently overlooked POTS symptom triggers and tools for managing them with confidence.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and shall not be construed as behavioral health or medical advice. It is not intended or implied to supplement or replace treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis from your own qualified healthcare provider.