Dysautonomia: What Is It and How Can We Help?
The nervous system is the intricate network of nerves throughout our body that carries messages, impulses, and signals to control all of the body’s functions and systems. While the central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system is made up of all the remaining nerves in the body. The peripheral nervous system can then be broken down into more divisions, including the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. Somatic refers to voluntary movements and processes, whereas the autonomic system refers to the involuntary actions that occur within our bodies.
When something is amiss within our autonomic nervous system, it can wreak havoc on our entire body’s functions and our overall health. Since the autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls involuntary processes, such as our heart beating, our lungs breathing, and our blood pumping, a disruption in autonomic function can be very dangerous and concerning. When there is no definitive reason for distress in the body but the issue is linked to our autonomic nervous system, it is generally referred to as dysautonomia.
Symptoms and Causes of Dysautonomia
Sometimes dysautonomia is related to another chronic condition, such as Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, autonomic neuropathy, and more. Other times, it appears to be a stand-alone condition in which one or more parts of the ANS are not working properly and bringing about dysfunction. Symptoms will differ vastly between individuals because they occur based on where the disruption in the ANS is happening. However, the most frequently seen symptoms include anxiety, vision trouble, bowel and/or urinary incontinence, dizziness, insomnia, and low blood pressure.
If you are experiencing symptoms like this and have yet to discover a cause or solution, Dr. Paige Roth at True Roots Chiropractic can help you. Dr. Paige is a neurologically-based chiropractor in Des Moines who is an expert at autonomic nervous system function and has helped many find relief from dysautonomia and related issues.
How Chiropractic Impacts Dysautonomia
Chiropractors focus on the spine, which directly impacts the function of the entire nervous system. When any vertebrae are turned or shifted even the tiniest bit, they can put pressure on the spinal cord or peripheral nerves, which impede the proper transfer of messages through these neural pathways. This interruption in nerve impulses creates dysfunction in one or many bodily systems, depending on where the interruption occurred.
When you visit Dr. Paige Roth at True Roots Chiropractic, she will aim to find the root cause and the real source of your dysautonomia. She will examine and assess your spine, looking for misalignments that may be impeding the function of your nervous system. She will then perform gentle and specific adjustments to not only realign your spine, but also to restore optimal nerve function and overall health to your entire body.
If you have been diagnosed with dysautonomia, if you suspect it is the problem, or if you are dealing with another chronic disease or health issue, contact the team at True Roots Chiropractic today. Dr. Paige would love to serve you and take care of your spine so that you can find relief from frustrating health conditions and live freely once again.