Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms rather than a disease. This health situation is caused by nerve damage to your involuntary system resulting in problems with body functions that are automatic.
Autonomic neuropathy, aka visceral neuropathy, causes a broad range of symptoms because is can disrupt signals to a variety of organs, such as:
- skin
- heart
- sweat glands
- blood vessels
- digestive tract
- genital organs
- smooth muscles
- cardiovascular system
Thus, autonomic neuropathy may cause abnormal performance of involuntary functions involving heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration, digestion and other vital involuntary activities.
Autonomic neuropathies can be hereditary or acquired. Yet, acquired autonomic neuropathy is the most prevalent.
Autonomic neuropathy is a form of peripheral neuropathy because its nerve damage is to a part of your peripheral nervous system. It can be caused by an array of health conditions or a side effect of treatment.
Some of the causes of autonomic neuropathy nerve damage symptoms include:
- alcoholism
- amyloidosis
- celiac disease
- diabetes mellitus
- chronic thyroiditis
- Sjögren syndrome
- Parkinson’s disease
- rheumatoid arthritis
- Hashimoto thyroiditis
- vitamin B12 deficiency
- Guillain Barre syndrome
- multiple system atrophy
- connective tissue disorders
- inflammatory bowel disease
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- traumatic, surgical nerve injury
- paraneoplastic autonomic neuropathy
- Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
- drugs ~ chemotherapy, anticholinergic
- infectious diseases ~ Lyme disease, HIV, chagas disease, botulism, leprosy
Long term diabetic condition is the most common cause of autonomic neuropathy.
Inherited autonomic neuropathies are rare. The diseases in which this involuntary system nerve damage is a common characteristic are:
- porphyrias
- Fabry disease
- familial amyloid polyneuropathy
- hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathies
Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy develop gradually causing a variety complaints depending on which nerves are damaged. You could experience a whole host of involuntary system symptoms, for instance:
- dysuria
- diarrhea
- nocturia
- heartburn
- dysphagia
- impotency
- hearing loss
- hypothermia
- constipation
- gastroparesis
- vaginal dryness
- loss of appetite
- heat intolerance
- nausea, vomiting
- exercise intolerance
- urinary incontinence
- burning feet, cold feet
- orthostatic hypotension
- standing dizziness, fainting
- abdominal swelling, bloating
- pruritus, dry skin, brittle nails
- erectile dysfunction, ejaculation issues
- slowed pupil reaction ~ night blindness
- early satiety ~ feeling full after eating little
- sweating abnormalities ~ decrease, excessive
- inability to empty bladder completely ~ can lead to UTI
- vision changes ~ light sensitivity, blurry vision, tunnel vision, difficulty focusing
- lack of hypoglycemia warning ~ shakiness, heart rate increase, sweating, palpitations
Excessive vomiting or diarrhea may cause further complications of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, hypokalemia and malnutrition.
Treating autonomic neuropathy starts by managing the health condition that caused your damaged nerves in an effort to stop its progression. In some cases, if the cause is treated your impaired nerves may regenerate. And there’s a multitude of palliative treatments available for tending to your individual symptoms.
The involuntary system symptoms of autonomic neuropathy can be extremely uncomfortable. So the best thing you can do is take appropriate steps to prevent it from occurring, like:
- withdraw from alcohol
- maintain a healthy weight
- control high blood pressure
- keep your blood sugar under control
- have autoimmune disease treated appropriately
And as with many health issues, consume healthy nutrition and exercise regularly.
