Autonomic Nervous System Disorders

Summary

Your autonomic nervous system is the part of your nervous system that controls involuntary actions, such as the beating of your heart and the widening or narrowing of your blood vessels. When something goes wrong in this system, it can cause serious problems, including:

• Blood pressure problems
• Heart problems
• Trouble with breathing and swallowing
• Erectile dysfunction in men

Autonomic nervous system disorders can occur alone or as the result of another disease, such as Parkinson’s disease, alcoholism and diabetes. Problems can affect either part of the system, as in complex regional pain syndromes, or all of the system. Some types are temporary, but many worsen over time. When they affect your breathing or heart function, these disorders can be life-threatening.

Some autonomic nervous system disorders get better when an underlying disease is treated. Often, however, there is no cure. In that case, the goal of treatment is to improve symptoms.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Children

• Anisocoria and Horner’s Syndrome American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Encyclopedia

• Autonomic dysreflexia Medical Encyclopedia
• Familial dysautonomia Medical Encyclopedia
• Horner syndrome Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Autonomic Neuropathy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Dysautonomia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System Merck & Co., Inc.

Patient Handouts

• Autonomic neuropathy Medical Encyclopedia
• Multiple system atrophy – parkinsonian type Medical Encyclopedia

Diagnosis and Tests

• Autonomic Testing National Library of Medicine

Genetics

• Autosomal dominant leukodystrophy with autonomic disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Cold-induced sweating syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Familial dysautonomia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Horner syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Multiple system atrophy: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Orthostatic hypotension: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Stüve-Wiedemann syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Transthyretin amyloidosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Triple A syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Specifics

• Baroreflex Failure Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
• Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
• Holmes-Adie Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Horner Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Multiple System Atrophy National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Orthostatic Hypotension National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Pure Autonomic Failure Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Autonomic Nervous System Diseases National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hypotension, Orthostatic National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Multiple System Atrophy National Institutes of Health

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Journal Articles

• Non-familial dysautonomia and orthostatic hypotension