Dysautonomia refers to a disorder of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. Most physicians view dysautonomia in terms of failure of the sympathetic or parasympathetic components of the ANS, but dysautonomia involving excessive ANS activities also can occur. Dysautonomia can be local, as in reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or generalized, as in pure autonomic failure. It can be acute and reversible, as in Guillain-Barre syndrome, or chronic and progressive. Several common conditions such as diabetes and alcoholism can include dysautonomia. Dysautonomia also can occur as a primary condition or in association with degenerative neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Other diseases with generalized, primary dysautonomia include multiple system atrophy and familial dysautonomia. Hallmarks of generalized dysautonomia due to sympathetic failure are impotence (in men) and a fall in blood pressure during standing (orthostatic hypotension). Excessive sympathetic activity can present as hypertension or a rapid pulse rate.
National Dysautonomia Research Foundation P.O. Box 301 Red Wing, MN 55066-0301 ndrf@ndrf.org http://www.ndrf.org Tel: 651-267-0525 Fax: 651-267-0524 |
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 1968 (55 Kenosia Avenue) Danbury, CT 06813-1968 orphan@rarediseases.org http://www.rarediseases.org Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673) Fax: 203-798-2291 |
Dysautonomia Foundation 315 W. 39th Street Suite 701 New York, NY 10018 info@familialdysautonomia.org http://www.familialdysautonomia.org Tel: 212-279-1066 Fax: 212-279-2066 |
Familial Dysautonomia Hope Foundation, Inc. (FD Hope) 121 South Estes Drive Suite 205-D Chapel Hill, NC 27514-2868 info@fdhope.org http://www.fdhope.org Tel: 919-969-6636 |
Shy-Drager/Multiple System Atrophy Support Group, Inc. P.O. Box 279 Coupland, TX 78615 http://www.shy-drager.org Tel: 866-SDS-4999 (737-4999) Fax: 512-251-3315 |
Dysautonomia Youth Network of America, Inc. 1301 Greengate Court Waldorf, MD 20601 info@dynakids.org http://www.dynakids.org Tel: 301-705-6995 Fax: 301-638-DYNA |
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Last updated August 23, 2007