The world of Dysautonomia and all the various symptoms and conditions that fall under this broad heading, can leave people impacted by it, feeling miserable, defeated and like their world is limited due to their inability to properly function within it.
Dysautonomia is an umbrella term used to described disorders related to the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS serves as an automatic/unconscious control system for our brain and the nervous system making sure our body has a stable environment and all the fuel and input it needs. This beautiful system, the ANS, regulates blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, digestion, temperature control, hormone secretion and regulation, pupillary reflexes, organ function and basic survival control.
As you can imagine, when any of these above areas of our body are impacted and the ANS loses is ability to properly control the specific system, the resulting Dysautonomia can be incredibly disruptive to the health of the individual.
Common Symptoms to Dysautonomia are the following:
Lightheadedness
Fainting
Heat Intolerance
Abnormal Blood Pressure
Irregular Heart Beat (Commonly Tachycardia/Increased Heart Rate)
Brain Fog
Improper Nutrient Absorption
Fatigue
Intolerance to standing or exercise (Often Due to Orthostatic Hypotension or POTS)
Photophobia (Light sensitivity)
Gastrointestinal Problems
Chronic Pain
Dizziness (Lightheadedness)
Migraine and Chronic Headaches
In this episode we are fortunate to have our friend, colleague and expert in the field of Dysautonomia on the podcast to discuss the subject and share his wealth of knowledge on how to help people impacted by it... Dr. Nathan Kaiser, DC, DACNB, FABBIR.
Dr Keiser is a board certified chiropractic neurologist specializing in non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical treatment of the dysautonomia, traumatic brain injury, and movement disorders. He resides and practices in Chelsea, Michigan, just 20 minutes west of Ann Arbor.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Keiser serves as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology for the Carrick Institute, which provides post-graduate instruction for doctors of all disciplines in the field of clinical and functional neurology. He is actively involved in ongoing research in his area of study and he regularly presents and teaches across North America and Europe. He is a true leader in the world of Dysautonomia and through his research, clinical approach years of practice in this specialized area has led to greater hope for those suffering from one of the many conditions that fall under this broad family of neurological disorders.
Over 70 million people worldwide live with various forms of dysautonomia and I would estimate that this number is well below the actual number truly impacted.
Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are two common causes to dysautonomia but more recently we have seen an increase in post-infectious causes due to infections like COVID-19. Dysautonomia can be a part of the lingering "Long Haulers" symptoms.
Common Dysautonomias:
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Migraines
Anxiety and Panic Attacks (certain ones can be a result of dysautonomia)
We hope you enjoy this discussion on dysautonomia and we hope it delivers information to help you or someone you know find help and answers.
For more information on our guest, Dr. Keiser, please check out his instagram, @dockeiser, or his website at www.drkeiser.com