MitoAction welcomes Dr. David Holtzman to discuss “dysautonomia”.
Dysautonomia is a failure of the autonomic nervous system to regulate certain body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiration, digestion, etc. The dysautonomia information network (www.dinet.org) offers information about several types of dysautonomia, including POTSIt is a form of orthostatic intolerance. Symptoms of the condition occur upon standing up from a reclining position. The primary symptom of the intolerance is lightheadedness, fainting and an uncomfor (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). Experienced by many people with mitochondrialRelated to the mitochondria. disease, POTS is basically a dramatic increase in heart rate upon standing, and may result in dizziness, nausea, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Many adults and children with mitochondrial disorders experience such symptoms related to dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Symptoms may be puzzling, such as abnormal sweating or body temperatures, or may affect quality of life. For some people, constant nausea, dizziness, gut cramping, etc. is extraordinarily challenging.
Warmer temperatures and weather changes in the spring may prompt temperature regulation difficulties for people with Mito. Often parents of children with mitochondrial disorders and adults living with the disease may not recognize that the symptoms could be related to dysautonomia.
