Learn About Autonomic Neuropathy

What is the definition of Autonomic Neuropathy?

Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms that occur when there is damage to the nerves that manage normally automatic body functions. These functions include blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion.

What are the alternative names for Autonomic Neuropathy?

Neuropathy - autonomic; Autonomic nerve disease

What are the causes of Autonomic Neuropathy?

Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms. It is not a specific disease. There are many causes.

Autonomic neuropathy involves damage to the nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord. The information is then carried to the heart, blood vessels, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, and pupils.

Autonomic neuropathy may be seen with:

  • Alcohol abuse
  • Diabetes (diabetic neuropathy)
  • Disorders involving scarring of tissues around the nerves
  • Guillain Barré syndrome or other diseases that inflame nerves
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Inherited nerve disorders
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson disease
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Surgery or injury involving the nerves
What are the symptoms of Autonomic Neuropathy?

Symptoms vary, depending on the nerves affected. They usually develop slowly over years.

Stomach and intestine symptoms may include:

  • Constipation (hard stools)
  • Diarrhea (loose stools)
  • Feeling full after only a few bites (early satiety)
  • Nausea after eating
  • Problems controlling bowel movements
  • Swallowing problems
  • Swollen abdomen
  • Vomiting of undigested food

Heart and lungs symptoms may include:

  • Abnormal heart rate or rhythm
  • Blood pressure drop with position that causes dizziness when standing
  • High blood pressure
  • Shortness of breath with activity or exercise

Bladder symptoms may include:

  • Difficulty beginning to urinate
  • Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
  • Leaking urine

Other symptoms may include:

  • Sweating too much or not enough
  • Heat intolerance brought on with activity and exercise
  • Sexual problems, including erection problems in men and vaginal dryness and orgasm difficulties in women
  • Small pupil in one eye
  • Weight loss without trying
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What are the current treatments for Autonomic Neuropathy?

Treatment to reverse nerve damage is most often not possible. As a result, treatment and self-care are focused on managing your symptoms and preventing further problems.

Your health care provider may recommend:

  • Extra salt in the diet or taking salt tablets to increase fluid volume in blood vessels
  • Fludrocortisone or similar medicines to help your body retain salt and fluid
  • Medicines to treat irregular heart rhythms
  • Pacemaker
  • Sleeping with the head raised
  • Wearing compression stockings

The following may help your intestines and stomach work better:

  • Daily bowel care program
  • Medicines that help the stomach move food through faster
  • Sleeping with the head raised
  • Small, frequent meals

Medicines and self-care programs can help you if you have:

  • Urinary incontinence
  • Neurogenic bladder
  • Erection problems
Who are the top Autonomic Neuropathy Local Doctors?

Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai

1 Gustave Levy Place, 
New York, NY 
 24.9 mi

Jessica Robinson-Papp is a Neurologist in New York, New York. Dr. Robinson-Papp and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autonomic Neuropathy. Her top areas of expertise are Autonomic Neuropathy, Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, Neuralgia, and Chronic Pain.

Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology
44 Godwin Ave, 
Midland Park, NJ 
 18.8 mi
Accepting New Patients

Orrin Davis is an Otolaryngologist in Midland Park, New Jersey. Dr. Davis and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autonomic Neuropathy. His top areas of expertise are Parathyroid Cancer, Parathyroid Adenoma, Salivary Gland Tumors, Parathyroidectomy, and Thyroidectomy. Dr. Davis is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology

The Westchester Medical Group, P.C

1 Theall Rd, 
Rye, NY 
 13.7 mi

Katherine Shen is an Otolaryngologist in Rye, New York. Dr. Shen and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autonomic Neuropathy. Her top areas of expertise are Familial Deafness, Infant Hearing Loss, Jones Syndrome, and DFNB1.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Autonomic Neuropathy?

How well you do will depend on the cause of the problem and if it can be treated.

When should I contact a medical professional for Autonomic Neuropathy?

Contact your provider if you have symptoms of autonomic neuropathy. Early symptoms might include:

  • Becoming faint or lightheaded when standing
  • Changes in bowel, bladder, or sexual function
  • Unexplained nausea and vomiting when eating

Early diagnosis and treatment may control symptoms.

Autonomic neuropathy may hide the warning signs of a heart attack. Instead of feeling chest pain, if you have autonomic neuropathy, during a heart attack you may only have:

  • Sudden fatigue
  • Sweating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea and vomiting
How do I prevent Autonomic Neuropathy?

Prevent or control associated disorders to reduce the risk for neuropathy. For example, people with diabetes should closely control blood sugar levels.

What are the latest Autonomic Neuropathy Clinical Trials?
Evaluation of the Effect of Cocoa Supplementation on Biochemical and Clinical Profile and Sensory-motor Processing of Peripheral and Autonomic Diabetic Neuropathy: Randomized Clinical Trial

Summary: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a high incidence disease in Mexico and is associated with the development of chronic degenerative complications such as diabetic neuropathy. The latter manifests itself as a set of disorders that occur as a consequence of a chronic hyperglycemic state that can induce oxidative stress and inflammation, resulting in damage to the autonomic and peripheral nervous system. I...

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Sexual Dimorphism in the Prevalence and Progression of Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Summary: Sex might interact with cardioautonomic neuropathy (CAN) in the development of macrovascular disease in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The regulation of the autonomic system shows sexual dimorphism, and may contribute to the cardiovascular risk overload in women with T1D. The aims of this project are: A.1) Determining the prevalence of CAN and subclinical atherosclerosis in a large cohort of...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: November 02, 2022
Published By: Evelyn O. Berman, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Katirji B. Disorders of peripheral nerves. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 106.

Smith G, Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 392.