Diseases

Autonomic Neuropathy – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Autonomic neuropathy

Autonomic neuropathy refers to damage to the nerves within the autonomic nervous system. Heart, blood, sweat production and digestion are particularly affected. As a byproduct of other diseases, autonomic neuropathy must be cured by therapy for the causative disease.

What is autonomic neuropathy?

Autonomic neuropathy is a nerve disorder that adversely affects uncontrolled body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration, and digestion. It’s not a specified disease.

Autonomic neuropathy refers to damage in the autonomic nervous system. This damage disrupts the connections between the brain and parts of the autonomic nervous system. These include the heart , blood vessels, and sweat glands. It can consequently lead to abnormal phenomena in the uncontrolled bodily functions. Autonomic neuropathy can be a side effect of several disorders and conditions.

There are also medications that can cause autonomic neuropathy as a side effect. The signs and symptoms of autonomic neuropathy depend on the cause of the disorder and which nerves are affected in the specific case.

causes

Autonomic neuropathy can result from many disorders and diseases, and can be a side effect of certain medications. Some common causes of autonomic neuropathy include:

Abnormal accumulation of proteins in organs (amyloidosis) causing changes in organs and the nervous system; Autoimmune diseases , which cause your own immune system to attack your own body cells (e.g. Sjögren’s syndrome or lupus ); Diabetes is the most common cause of autonomic neuropathy and can damage the body’s nerves with increasing intensity; trauma, as a result of which certain nerves have been severely damaged; Medicines, especially cancer medicines (chemotherapy), antidepressants and heart medicines; other chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s ; some viruses and bacteria, including botulism ,leprosy , diphtheria ; congenital disorders can also lead to autonomic neuropathy.

Symptoms, Ailments & Signs

Depending on which disorder or disease underlies an autonomic neuropathy, the nerve damage can become noticeable through different symptoms and complaints. If an autoimmune disease is the cause, circulatory problems, tachycardia and dizziness can occur, among other things. The increased susceptibility to infections can trigger infections and secondary diseases.

In addition, edema can occur in different parts of the body. Furthermore, autonomic neuropathy can manifest itself through gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting , diarrhea and flatulence . In the skin area, dry skin, dandruff and increased sweating can occur. The respiratory tract, which can be irritated, is also often affected, which is noticeable, among other things, by difficulty swallowing and inflammation.

Furthermore, the nerve damage can lead to temporary or permanent incontinence . Depending on the cause, further functional disorders can occur: symptoms of paralysis , neurological complaints, organ dysfunction, restricted mobility and poor posture. If the nerve damage is caused by cancer, there will be external changes such as weight loss , pale skin and, under certain circumstances, hair loss .

Due to the large number of possible symptoms, an autonomic neuropathy can only be diagnosed on the basis of a comprehensive medical diagnosis. The symptoms mentioned can change and increase in intensity as the disease progresses.

Diagnosis & History

Many diseases and disorders can lead to autonomic neuropathy. For a possible therapy it is important to identify the cause of the nerve damage at the beginning.

Patients with diabetes or cancer belong to the risk group for autonomic neuropathy anyway. However, if the patient is not at risk, diagnosis is more complicated and may involve a variety of other tests in addition to an analysis of personal medical history and a physical examination. A breath test, for example, can provide clues in which heart rate and blood pressure are measured while the patient is doing certain breathing exercises.

Another test involves checking blood pressure and heart rate while performing certain physical activities (lying down, squatting, standing up, etc.). A gastrointestinal test controls the movement of food in the system. Further tests can check the function of the sweat glands or reveal malfunctions in the bladder, e.g. with an ultrasound.

complications

Autonomic neuropathy usually causes severe damage to the nervous system. This can affect the function of different organs or regions of the body. These include the sweat glands, digestion and the heart. Those affected also suffer from diabetes.

Serious diseases of the cardiovascular system occur, so that the patient suffers from heart problems. These can manifest themselves in different forms, such as heart palpitations. Likewise, the affected person is often no longer able to perform any physical activities and is severely restricted in his everyday life as a result.

Bloating and diarrhea also occur. In addition, most patients also suffer from nausea and vomiting. If the disease is caused by cancer, it is not always possible to treat it, so that in the worst case it can lead to death. The treatment itself always depends on the underlying disease.

If it is started early, the nerve damage may resolve, preventing further complications. However, some patients also suffer from incontinence , which can burden everyday life. Damage to the heart is treated with medication. The sweat glands can also be reactivated with the help of glycopyrronium bromide.

When should you go to the doctor?

A doctor must be consulted in the event of circulatory problems, tachycardia, gastrointestinal complaints and other typical signs of autonomic neuropathy. Medical clarification is particularly urgent if several symptoms occur at the same time and these increase as the disease progresses. Nausea and vomiting combined with dry skin and increased sweating indicate a serious illness. A doctor must clarify whether this is an autonomic neuropathy or another disease.

Risk groups include patients with diabetes, cancer or cardiovascular disease. Likewise smokers, overweight and people with alcoholism. Anyone suffering from any of these diseases or conditions should speak to a doctor immediately if they experience any unusual symptoms. If the autonomic neuropathy remains untreated, it can lead to a severe course.

At the latest when chronic pain or fatigue occurs, a doctor must clarify the cause. Severe symptoms such as chronic diarrhea, circulatory collapse or heart attacks are medical emergencies. The person concerned or an observer must call an ambulance and, if necessary, carry out first aid measures.

Treatment & Therapy

Treatment usually does not treat the autonomic neuropathy directly, but rather the disease that causes it. As a result of many diseases, the nerve disorder will in most cases resolve itself if the disease is treated successfully.

If the digestive tract is affected by the nerve disorder, the doctor will recommend a change in diet to relieve symptoms. Certain medications can help speed up the process of feeding. For bladder problems, a doctor may recommend following a strict schedule of fluid intake and urination. Medications such as bethanechol can help empty the bladder completely so that unwanted incontinence does not occur.

Overactive bladder is also possible and can be treated with medication. Men may complain of erectile dysfunction with autonomic neuropathy , which can be treated with sildenafil . Lubricants can help with a dry vagina in women. Effects on heart and blood pressure should also be controlled with medication ( e.g. midodrine and pyridostigmine ). The drug glycopyrronium bromide can reduce the production of the sweat glands in case of excessive perspiration.

Outlook & Forecast

The prognosis of autonomic neuropathy depends on the underlying disease. It is often a chronic disease that cannot be cured.

The therapeutic approaches to a disease with a chronic course provide for the alleviation of the various accompanying symptoms in order to enable a good quality of life with the disease. In particular, the freedom from pain and the functionality of the organs are in the foreground. Since autonomic neuropathy is not treated directly, no cure is therefore to be expected. In addition, the damage to the nerves is irreparable in many cases.

The exchange or regeneration of nerve fibers is not possible with the given scientific and medical methods. However, there is recovery in patients diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy when medical treatment has resolved the underlying condition. This is particularly possible with diseases of the bladder or the digestive tract. After the hyperfunction of the bladder has been cured, the neuropathy regresses on its own.

Prognosis prospects improve with adherence to a healthy lifestyle. With a balanced diet, avoidance of harmful substances and a stable immune system, the patient’s health improves significantly. The normal weight should be maintained and the needs of the organism should be taken into account.

prevention

Certain diseases favor the development of autonomic neuropathy. Here, patients must pay particular attention to their state of health and listen to the instructions of their doctor. If you have diabetes, you should keep your blood sugar levels under control. Alcoholism must be fought, as must smoking, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.

aftercare

The causes of autonomic neuropathy cannot be treated. Doctors can only alleviate the typical symptoms. Lifelong follow-up care is therefore necessary. Since a large number of diseases can trigger autonomic neuropathy, the initial diagnosis takes a comparatively long time. Depending on the extent of the signs, certain procedures are repeated in the context of aftercare.

This is to document the progression of the disease. Complications can also be ruled out in this way. Possible diagnostic procedures include imaging examinations such as X-rays and sonography, ECG, blood tests and blood pressure measurements. In addition to medical support, patients themselves are responsible for their state of health. Both aspects equally determine the success of a treatment.

In principle, all health-promoting measures should be taken, including a balanced diet, avoiding addictive substances such as nicotine and alcohol and regular physical exercise. If you have diabetes, it is important to keep your blood sugar levels low. Existing obesity patients must reduce.

Stress should also be avoided. Drugs are often administered as part of the therapy. These are to be taken continuously. Discontinuation immediately leads to a resurgence of symptoms. Those affected should pay attention to body signals and contact their doctor in the event of acute changes.

You can do that yourself

If type 2 diabetes mellitus is the trigger for the autonomic neuropathy, the patient can best help themselves by changing their lifestyle and eating habits. If you are significantly overweight , you should first lose at least ten kilos. If reduction diets have not shown any lasting success in the past, those affected should definitely seek professional help and consult a nutritionist .

Very often, simply reducing food intake is not enough; instead, a complete change in diet is required. However, this plan usually fails due to the necessary motivation or the patient’s stamina. The exchange with other affected people in a self-help group is often very beneficial here.

If autoimmune diseases are the cause of the autonomic neuropathy, patients should find out whether there is a connection between acute flare-ups of the autoimmune disease and certain external factors, such as certain foods or stressful situations , and avoid these factors as far as possible.

Individual symptoms of autonomic neuropathy can also be alleviated with mild home remedies. A teaspoon of cumin chewed slowly will help with flatulence . Dried blueberries , which are also very tasty, provide quick help for non-specific diarrhea . If you don’t want to collect them yourself, you can buy them in herbal shops or order them online.

Lisa Newlon
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Hello! I am Lisa Newlon, and I am a medical writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I have a Master’s degree in Medicine, and my deep understanding of medical terminology, practices, and procedures has made me a trusted source of information in the medical world.