POTS: A Guide to Autonomic System Dysregulation
- Kayla Jane
- Jan 11, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 5, 2024
Once diagnosed with POTS, it is important to understand the complexities of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The autonomic nervous system is in control of body processes that are done automatically.
The ability our bodies have to respond to life events as we experience it, is one of those things people generally take for granted. The autonomic nervous system regulates how the body responds to the environment around us. It is divided into two categories: the Parasympathetic System and the Sympathetic System (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). This article can serve as a guide on how POTS involves both the parasympathetic and the sympathetic system, displaying a multitude of symptoms that can be seen in other conditions, complicating the process of diagnosis.
The parasympathetic system represents the ability to complete basic day-to-day activities. It gives the body the ability to rest and digest, so to speak.
The ANS parasympathetic system includes, but is not limited to the following:
Constriction of pupils
Stimulates salivation
Lungs reduce oxygen intake (constrict bronchi)
Slower Heart Rate
Stimulates digestion
Stimulates bile release in liver
Stimulates urination in bladder
The ANS sympathetic system represents the ability to function in fight-or-flight mode. It gives the body to the ability to operate in survival mode.
The sympathetic system includes, but is not limited to the following:
Dilation of pupils
Inhibits salivation
Lungs increase oxygen intake (dilate bronchi)
Faster Heart Rate
Inhibits digestion
Kidneys stimulate epinephrine, and norepinephrine release
Stimulates glucose release in liver
Inhibits urination
Autonomic responses should be automatic, which is why it is so difficult for people to fully understand the complexities of symptoms presented in POTS patients. The dysregulation of the autotomic system is the cause of a multitude of symptoms. The disruption of the nervous system is behind the chaos taking place in POTS patients. Simple tasks that people often take for granted, are challenging. It requires thought and concentration to complete tasks that healthy people take for granted. Identification of these symptoms will serve as guide in receiving a diagnosis as well as setting up an individual plan for relief.
References
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Parasympathetic nervous system.
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Sympathetic nervous system.
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