​What is DYSAUTONOMIA?

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​Dysautonomia refers to a group of disorders that affect the unconscious functions of the nervous system, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and breathing.  

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The most common form, Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), is thought by the Mayo Clinic to affect 1 in 100 teens, and at least 500,000 -1 million people in the US.  ​

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That is a lot of people! So why haven't more people heard of dysautonomia and POTS?

 

​That is what we are trying to change. It's a confusing set of disorders, and much more research, awareness, and education is needed - both for medical professionals and the public in general.

 

What does dysautonomia do to someone? How serious is it?

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Dysautonomia commonly causes issues with heart rate and blood pressure, and changes when a person stands up. So, many people with various forms of dysautonomia faint, or feel like they are going to faint. They can also have a very fast heart rate that is frightening, extreme fatigue, problems with digestion, memory, and many other unconscious bodily functions. The symptoms vary based on the disorder and every individual is different. This makes it hard for some doctors to recognize, and often patients are left thinking it's anxiety, or all in their head. Women are affected more than men (an estimated 5:1 ratio), and many people are left completely disabled. Some of the more rare forms are fatal.  ​

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TEENS are greatly affected by POTS.

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POTS often affects high achieving, athletic teens very suddenly, making school and day to day life very hard for them. Here are links to news articles about amazing teens overcoming their struggles with POTS (via Pinterest).

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Learn more about dysautonomia on our website!​

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Get involved and make a difference!​

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Spread the word and help make DYSAUTONOMIA and POTS household names!

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