Guest guest Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I've never consulted with this holistic health counselor, but I like a lot of her info and advice. http://www.holistichelp.net/index.html Received this info via 's newsletter which I subscribe to, a bit long but worth reading: Do You Have Dysautonomia? Dysautonomia, also known as autonomic nervous system dysfunction or disorder, is a blanket label applied to a variety of conditions that develop, at least in part, because of malfunction or faulty regulation in the involuntary nervous system. Generally speaking, there is excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system and underactivity of the parasympathetic nervous system. Although dysautonomia is not very well known by the general population, it is a complex and serious health concern that affects millions. Disorders of the autonomic nervous system are not very familiar to most because they are often not to referred to in this manner. You hear about the individual health conditions themselves, instead of being referred to by this broad category definition. In the early stages of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, the symptoms may be vague and fleeting like general malaise, headaches, weakness, anxiety, sweating, dizziness, constipation, exercise intolerance, depression, nausea, irregular heartbeat, heart pounding, disturbed sleep, irritability or blurred vision. Something doesn't feel quite right, but you can't put your finger on it. A visit to the doctor's office typically results in no clinical findings and a prescription for a sedative or antidepressant, which ultimately impairs the nervous system even more in the long run. When left unchecked, dysautonomia progresses to a variety of full blown health conditions and syndromes, which have a significant impact on the quality of one's life. ========================== Conditions Related to Dysautonomia ========================== Many of the conditions listed below may have a variety of contributing factors, however, an overactive sympathetic nervous system is a significant aspect that must be addressed and is often overlooked. -- Adrenal fatigue -- Headaches -- Impotency and erectile dysfunction -- High blood pressure -- Heart disease -- Multiple chemical sensitivity -- Chronic fatigue -- Fibromyalgia -- Depression -- Anxiety -- Hyperactivity -- Alcoholism -- Addiction -- Compulsive overeating -- Food addiction -- Ulcers -- Insomnia -- Panic attacks -- Heart arrhythmia -- Gastrointestinal disorders -- Bowel disorders like constipation and IBS -- Bipolar -- Manic depressive -- Autism -- MS -- Obesity -- Circulation disorders -- Hyperactivity -- Attention deficit -- Violence and aggression -- Overactive bladder -- Gulf war syndrome -- Tachycardia -- Alzheimer's -- Parkinson's -- Excessive sweating with unknown cause -- Worsening of any mental or medical health condition Although this list contains some of the most common conditions that have an autonomic nervous system component, it is not exhaustive. Pretty much all medical and mental health conditions have some degree of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, either as a primary factor or a secondary. ================================ 2 Parts of the Autonomic Nervous System ================================ The autonomic nervous system, also known as the involuntary nervous system, regulates those facets in the body that occur automatically, such as breathing, blood pressure, digestion, heart beat, bladder function and narrowing or widening of the blood vessels. It is composed of two branches - the parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system. 1. Sympathetic The sympathetic nervous system is also known as our stress response system, or the fight or flight system, and it is set into motion when we experience stress. It increases our heart rate and blood pressure, dilates pupils, restricts circulation, slows down digestion, relaxes the bladder, makes us more alert and aware and provides a boost in energy so that we are capable of dealing with the stressful situation effectively. It increases energy and is often referred to as the accelerator of the autonomic nervous system. 2. Parasympathetic The job of the parasympathetic nervous system is the exact opposite. Once the stressful event is over, it brings the heart rate and blood pressure back to normal, constricts pupils, improves circulation, enhances digestion, calms us down, contracts the bladder and puts us into a state of rest and relaxation. It conserves energy and is often referred to as the breaks of the autonomic nervous system. ==================================================== What Causes Dysautonomia or Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction? ==================================================== When the autonomic nervous system is functioning as it should, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system work in perfect harmony together to maintain balance in the body. The sympathetic nervous system provides us with the tools we need to respond to stress adequately and the parasympathetic nervous system restores us to our normal state of peace and tranquility. Dysautonomia, or autonomic nervous system dysfunction, occurs when these two systems fail to work together in harmony. The most common scenario is the sympathetic nervous system remains dominant most of the time and the parasympathetic never turns on. When this occurs, then the body remains in a state of fight or flight at all times. The stress response system never turns off. If the body remains in a state of fight or flight at all times, then many degenerative processes begin to happen and result in a variety of chronic health conditions and overall poor health like those in our list above, because it is only supposed to be used for brief emergencies. The stress response system was designed to deal with brief emergencies that threaten survival. It isn't supposed to last very long because the body cannot sustain itself for very long in this state. The natural and preferred state of the mind and body is the parasympathetic state, because it is regenerative. However, it is willing to forgo its preferred parasympathetic state to deal with acute emergencies and will remain in that state if the emergency continues. If the brain and the body remain in the sympathetic fight or flight state for too long and too often, it is degenerative; it breaks us down. If this cycle continues, then eventually the system burns out. It is this cycle that results in dysautonomia or autonomic nervous system dysfunction. The instigating factor responsible for putting the body into a constant state of fight or flight is chronic stress or what I call overstimulation of the stress response system. However, when we speak of stress, we are talking about a lot more than emotional stress. ================================== Chronic Stress and the Autonomic Nervous System ================================== There are many different kinds of stress or types of overstimulation and each one is perceived by the body in the same way -- a threat to survival that activates the sympathetic fight or flight system. One of my favorite mentors, Dr. Gant, tells us there are 12 different kinds of stress, but underneath each of these categories is a never ending list of possibilities. They are as follows: 1. Emotional stress - this is the form of stress most people are familiar with and what comes to mind when they think of the term. This may include loss of any kind like a divorce or break up, loss of a job, loss of abilities or characteristics, depression, conflict in relationships, financial struggles, internal conflict, dysfunctional or toxic relationships, employment issues etc. 2. Cognitive stress - unrealistic demands or expectations for yourself and/or your life, trying to live up to expectations of others, keeping up with the 's, seeing the glass half empty, catastrophizing or awfulizing. 3. Sensory stress - chronic pain, loud noise, constant stimulation from external sources. 4. Metabolic stress - syndrome x, too much exercise, pH, blood sugar, hypoglycemia. 5. Toxic stress - I usually refer to this as environmental toxins. It includes things like heavy metal toxicity, amalgam fillings, mercury in your food, air pollution, pesticides, herbicides, mold mycotoxins, disinfectants, perfume, air fresheners, electrogsmog etc. 6. Immune stress - food allergies or sensitivities, inflammation, autoimmune disorders. 7. Endocrine and neurotransmitter stress - adrenal glands, cortisol, thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, menopause, andropause, insulin, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA etc. 8. Purposelessness stress - I call this spiritual stress. Lack of meaning and purpose in life, inability to find gratitude, lack of love and empathy, not connected to the Universe, loss of self. 9. Infectious stress - Candida, parasites, viruses, bacteria, lyme etc. 10. Oxidative stress - veins and arteries, emphysema, lack of fresh air, sleep apnea, phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification. 11. Energetic stress - electromagnetic fields from cell phones, electronics etc., geopathic. 12. Structural stress - spine alignment, posture, TMJ, cranio-sacral. etc. This list is not exhaustive either, and many experiences or conditions could probably fall under more than one category but it gives us a pretty good outline to begin identifying our sources of stress, or the things that cause overstimulation to the stress response system. Anytime you experience stress of any kind the sympathetic nervous system, fight or flight system, is activated. Therefore if you are under stress on an ongoing basis, then the stress response system never turns off. Again to quote my favorite mentor, Dr. Gant, if you rev up the engine of your car for too long, you will burn up the engine. Revving up should take place briefly to get you through a temporary crises, not ongoing. The same applies to the human body. ====================== Why is Chronic Stress Harmful? ====================== If you experience only one or two stressors in the list above, your sympathetic nervous system will deal with the situation at hand and you return to the parasympathetic state. However, the more stressors you have to deal with in your life, the more your sympathetic nervous system is activated. When your total stress load, which is the sum of all your stressors added together, becomes too high then dysautonomia occurs. When we are under stress, the fight or flight system is activated and the sympathetic nervous system is in control; digestion is shut down, metabolism is impaired, blood pressure and heart rate are increased, circulation is impaired, high levels of norepinephrine are released in the brain and the adrenal glands release a variety of hormones like adrenalin, and cortisol. In a state of chronic stress, the body remains in this condition continually. We can easily see how remaining in a state of constant fight or flight would lead to a variety of digestive and circulation disorders as well as high blood pressure. However, it's much deeper than that. High levels of norepinephrine in the brain result in anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia and inability to relax while adrenalin triggers the liver to dump its sugar reserves into the blood stream. High levels of sugar in the blood steam alert the pancreas to release high levels of insulin. High levels of insulin in the blood stream on an ongoing basis lead to many degenerative health conditions like insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many more. During this process, other neurotransmitters like dopamine, GABA and serotonin are overstimulated as well, which leads to disrupted and/or depleted neurotransmitters. Cortisol is extremely important because it helps counteract some of the negative effects of stress and keep things in balance. It enhances digestion and metabolism, restricts insulin, is a crucial player in blood sugar management, glucose metabolism, immune function and the inflammatory response. However, excessively high levels of cortisol that occur when the demands of stress are too high result in high levels of anxiety and fear, disruption of the hormonal system, may impair memory and cognition and eventually leads to burn out. If the demands for cortisol remain high and incessant, eventually the adrenal glands can no longer produce enough cortisol. According to Dr. Gant, when the demands for cortisol are extremely high, a phenomenon called cortisol steal occurs. All the precursors needed for the hormones in the body like aldosterone, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and dhea will be used up to create cortisol and thus these hormones will become deficient and create additional burdens on the body and lead to more degeneration in health. It is the combination of these negative effects of excessive sympathetic nervous system activity that lead to dysautonomia. At this point there is a domino effect on other organs and systems in the body, the entire nervous system, immune system, endocrine system, hormonal system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, etc. etc. become affected and degradation in many areas of health may occur. ========================================= Dysautonomia or Autonomic Nervous System Treatment ========================================= Since the primary root of dysautonomia and autonomic nervous system dysfunction lies in an overactive sympathetic nervous system or activation of the fight or flight system, the ultimate goal in recovery is to restore balance to the autonomic nervous system. In other words we want turn off the sympathetic nervous system and return to the parasympathetic state. Sympathetic = Degenerative if continues for an extended period of time. Parasympathetic = Regenerative and healing. The preferred state for the body and mind. Regardless of which health condition you face, healing takes place in the regenerative state. Healing can't happen in a degenerative state. The process of restoring balance to the autonomic nervous system requires a complex and comprehensive approach that addresses each and every one of the contributing chronic stress factors that exist for each individual, as well as a variety of techniques and lifestyle changes that encourage activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and oppose the high levels of norepinephrine. 1. Reduce Your Total Stress Load One must go through the list of stressors above, identify each one that pertains to your situation and address them accordingly. If you have a boat filled with water and it is sinking, you take a bucket and toss the excess water out and the boat will stop sinking. The same applies to the stress load. Start tossing them overboard so you can get your head above water. For example, if you have Candida, nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity, emotional stress, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, lyme, low serotonin, structural stress, etc., then each of these issues need to be addressed. Whatever stressors apply to your life, these are the areas you need to focus to reduce your total stress load. 2. Get Lots of Rest Unfortunately in our society we tend to frown upon people who rest and take naps. We are expected to be doing something all the time, and if we aren't then we are often labeled as lazy or lacking in motivation. This attitude contributes greatly to autonomic nervous system conditions, because basically the norm in our society is to run yourself into the ground. Taking time to rest and nap is very healthy and getting plenty of it is a crucial part of recovery for an overactive sympathetic nervous system. This includes insuring that you get your 8 or 9 hours of sleep each night. The adrenal glands, as well as the body in general, does its regeneration while we sleep. 3. Cholesterol Level Dr. Gant tells us that a cholesterol level of below 160 is very hazardous to your health. Cholesterol is needed for the synthesis of all our steroid hormones. If you don't have enough cholesterol, you can't produce your life sustaining hormones like dhea, progesterone, estrogen, aldosterone and testosterone and most importantly in regard to the autonomic nervous system, cortisol. Cholesterol is converted to pregnenalone, which is converted to progesterone, which is converted to cortisol. If your cholesterol levels are too low, then they need to be increased. 4. Diet What you eat has a profound impact on your autonomic nervous system. Sugar, food additives, preservatives, dyes, caffeine, nicotine, pesticides all trigger the fight or flight system and keep the sympathetic nervous system in high alert and should be eliminated. Foods that are high in starches like whole grains, potatoes and beans break down into sugar in the body and should be avoided or at least greatly restricted as they too trigger the fight or flight. The diet should be high in animal protein and low-starch vegetables, eggs, and a small amount of low sugar fruits, nuts and seeds. If you tolerate dairy, then butter and yogurt are good for the endocrine and nervous system as well. I recommend a slightly modified version of the Paleolithic Diet. http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mfv1Q & m=1mDir0IyZKCFyH & b=ny2r.vQXqARB50r6K0oK6g 5. Environmental Toxins Most of the common everyday chemicals found in your cleaning products, personal care products, perfume, cologne, laundry products, air fresheners, pest control, lawn products etc., contain harmful toxins that not only overstimulate the sympathetic nervous system, but are destructive to the endocrine system, immune system, detoxification system and central nervous system as well. This is especially true of pesticides, they are one of the most harmful toxins that exist. This applies to mold as well, they emit mycotoxins that are harmful to the mind and body in the same manner as any other toxin. It is crucial to eliminate these substances from your life, eat organic and switch over to environmentally friendly products. The autonomic nervous system simply cannot be restored balance if it is constantly exposed to environmental toxins. 6. Exercise Getting regular exercise is very important for healing the autonomic nervous system, however the type of exercise you engage in is even more important. Exercise that is too intense and strenuous will put too much pressure on the endocrine system and add to depletion of cortisol and neurotransmitters in the brain. Mild, gentle exercise with a few short bursts of intensity will turn off the sympathetic nervous system, such as that found in the PACE exercise program. This also boosts endorphins, serotonin and dopamine which oppose norepinephrine. http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mfv1Q & m=1mDir0IyZKCFyH & b=bCvfTxHZ6O30r5lHqoOoUw 7. Replenish Nutrients People with dysautonomia typically have a long list of nutritional deficiencies they are unaware of. Adequate levels of vitamin c, zinc, pantethine, folic acid, b12, b1, b2, b3, pyridoxal 5 phosphate, as well as a variety of amino acids, fatty acids and minerals are essential for a healthy nervous system and neurotransmitter production and function. An Organic Acids test is a good place to start for identifying nutritional deficiencies. http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mfv1Q & m=1mDir0IyZKCFyH & b=7f.Jh3lJU7wjwBhCRDIkGQ 8. Deep Breathing Exercises Breathwork and deep breathing exercises is one of the most effective and affordable tools you can find for assistance in restoring balance to the autonomic nervous system. With our breath we can use our voluntary nervous system to influence our involuntary nervous system. We can turn off the sympathetic nervous system and turn on the parasympathetic simply by changing our patterns of breathing and also stimulate the feel good, relaxing alpha brain waves and neurotransmitters like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mfv1Q & m=1mDir0IyZKCFyH & b=GeFzOZ0So3edJg1wYpsl6g http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mfv1Q & m=1mDir0IyZKCFyH & b=0ub3osdPiUMHcWpvvjddYA 9. Mindfulness Based Meditation Simple mindfulness based meditation is also very effective for activating the parasympathetic nervous system and stimulating the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and endorphins which help us feel more relaxed, harmonious, balanced and happier. http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mfv1Q & m=1mDir0IyZKCFyH & b=oLg58P4a3vwIOCbCq_LSHg I prefer to combine my deep breathing exercises with mindfulness based meditation, which enhances the benefits of both. Meditation and deep breathing are just two of the activities that can be used, but there are many others. Any activity that brings peace, harmony, oneness with the Universe, balance and happiness to your life or makes you feel centered, like art, dance, social activism, love, yoga, tai chi, writing, spending time with nature etc., will also aid in soothing your stress response system. When we look over this page, it becomes apparent why Dysautonomia or autonomic nervous system dysfunction are rampant in our society -- because almost everyone is dealing with chronic stress of some sort. Who isn't dealing with a handful of the potential stressors in our list above? Not many. Therefore, there aren't many people who wouldn't benefit from increasing their parasympathetic nervous system activity. For both those who already have an existing health condition and those attempting to protect their health in the future, preventing or managing overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system is essential for optimal physical, emotional and spiritual health, no mater how you look at it. ====================================== Need More Info on Dysautonomia? ====================================== Perkins, M.Ed. is an author, holistic health counselor and sobriety coach. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master's degree in counseling and has researched the role of diet, nutrition and environmental toxins on our physical and mental health for more than two decades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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