Introductory Statement
- The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
- The part of the nervous system responsible for automatic, unconscious, involuntary activities of all organs of the body.
- Central Regulation
- The ANS is regulated by a complex network in the brain called the central autonomic network.
- Autonomic Medicine
- Autonomic medicine concerns disorders of regulation of body processes in which altered activities of one or more components of the ANS adversely affect health.
- Dysautonomias
- These disorders fall under the broad heading of dysautonomias.
Common Symptoms of Dysautonomias
- Inability to tolerate standing (orthostatic intolerance)
- Exercise intolerance
- Heat intolerance
- Increased or decreased sweating
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Genitourinary abnormalities
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Fatigue
Important Note
Dysautonomias may or may not have symptoms.