Dysautonomia: The Hidden Epidemic of Nervous System Dysfunction

Dr. Andrew Scott Author

Jun 09, 2025 |

Dysautonomia. It's a word most people have never heard of, yet it affects millions worldwide—often silently, insidiously, and misdiagnosed for years.

Dysautonomia. It's a word most people have never heard of, yet it affects millions worldwide—often silently, insidiously, and misdiagnosed for years. As a vitalistic chiropractor, I see the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as the unsung hero of our health. It is the master regulator of nearly every involuntary process in the body: heart rate, digestion, respiration, pupil dilation, immune response, and even the subtle shifts between rest and fight-or-flight.

When this delicate system becomes imbalanced or dysregulated, the effects can be devastating and confusing. That’s what we call Dysautonomia—a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. But unlike conventional approaches that chase symptoms with medications, we in chiropractic care go deeper. We look to the nervous system as the source, and seek to restore balance through vitalistic principles and spinal care.

Let’s dive into what Dysautonomia is, what causes it, how it manifests, and how a natural, neurological, chiropractic approach can help people regain their lives.

What is Dysautonomia?

Dysautonomia is an umbrella term describing disorders of autonomic nervous system function. The ANS has two branches: the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest). When these two are out of balance, the body cannot regulate itself properly.

Common types of Dysautonomia include:

• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
• Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS)
• Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
• Pure Autonomic Failure (PAF)

These conditions are more common than people think, yet many go unrecognized due to their complex and seemingly unrelated symptoms.

Symptoms: The Body Crying Out for Balance

People with Dysautonomia often look perfectly healthy, but their lives are anything but normal. Symptoms can vary and may affect every system of the body:

• Dizziness and lightheadedness, especially when standing up
• Heart palpitations or rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog and memory issues
• Digestive problems (constipation, gastroparesis)
• Heat intolerance
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Fainting spells or near-fainting
• Unexplained pain or tingling

Because these symptoms affect multiple systems, Dysautonomia is frequently misdiagnosed as anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or even hypochondria. But the reality is: this is not in the person’s head. It's in their nervous system.

What Causes Dysautonomia?

From a vitalistic perspective, the nervous system is the master control system. Any interference in its function—what we call a vertebral subluxation—can disrupt the communication between the brain and the body.

Here are some of the root causes of Dysautonomia, both from medical and chiropractic viewpoints:

1. Trauma (physical, emotional, or chemical)
   Concussions, car accidents, emotional stress, or toxic overload can trigger dysfunction in the ANS.
2. Spinal misalignments
   Especially in the upper cervical spine, where the brainstem meets the spinal cord. This area is crucial for autonomic regulation.
3. Chronic stress
   The modern world bombards us with constant low-level stress, keeping us stuck in sympathetic overdrive—unable to rest, digest, or heal.
4. Infections
   Viruses like Epstein-Barr or Lyme disease can trigger immune responses that disrupt autonomic balance.
5. Autoimmune conditions
   The immune system may begin attacking parts of the nervous system, as seen in lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome.

But here’s what most practitioners miss: while these are triggers, the real issue is often a loss of adaptability. The body can no longer shift efficiently between sympathetic and parasympathetic states. This is where chiropractic shines.

A Vitalistic Approach to Healing Dysautonomia

As chiropractors, we do not treat Dysautonomia. Let me be clear: we do not diagnose or cure disease. What we do is restore the natural function of the nervous system, allowing the body to heal itself, from above down, inside out.

When there’s interference in the spine—whether from trauma, poor posture, stress, or birth injury—it creates subluxations. These subtle misalignments distort neurological signals, particularly affecting the brainstem and vagus nerve, which are key players in autonomic function.

Through specific, gentle chiropractic adjustments, particularly upper cervical work, we can remove that interference, freeing up the nervous system to self-regulate.

Patients often report:

• Better energy and sleep
• Reduced heart palpitations
• Less dizziness and brain fog
• Improved digestion
• Greater emotional resilience

This is not magic—it's neurology.

Myths About Dysautonomia

Let’s debunk a few common myths about Dysautonomia:

Myth #1: “It’s all in your head.”
No—it's in your nervous system. And while the brain is involved, these symptoms are not imagined. They're measurable, physiological imbalances.

Myth #2: “You just need to drink more water and salt.”
Yes, hydration and electrolytes can help. But they are supportive measures, not root-cause solutions.

Myth #3: “Medication is the only answer.”
Medications like beta blockers or SSRIs may manage symptoms, but they don’t address the underlying nervous system dysfunction. Worse, they often add side effects to an already overwhelmed system.

Myth #4: “There’s no cure.”
From a medical standpoint, perhaps. But from a chiropractic lens, we don’t aim to "cure"—we aim to restore balance, and we see remarkable improvements when the nervous system is freed from interference.

Comorbid Conditions

Dysautonomia rarely shows up alone. It often comes hand-in-hand with:

• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS): A connective tissue disorder that can stretch and stress nerves.
• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS): Inappropriate histamine responses, often triggered by ANS imbalance.
• Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME)
• Small Fiber Neuropathy
• Autoimmune conditions

These conditions all involve nervous system dysregulation, inflammation, and immune miscommunication—highlighting the need for a whole-body, neurological approach to healing.

Why Dysautonomia Gets Misdiagnosed So Often

Here’s the truth: Most healthcare providers aren’t trained to recognize nervous system dysfunction unless it’s structural or catastrophic. That means unless there's a tumor, stroke, or obvious lesion, the subtle signs of autonomic imbalance are overlooked or dismissed.

Reasons for misdiagnosis:

• Symptoms mimic psychiatric or hormonal issues
• Normal lab tests and imaging—because you can't see a misfiring nervous system on an MRI
• Fragmented care—cardiologists treat the heart, neurologists treat the brain, gastroenterologists treat the gut…but no one connects the dots

Chiropractors, especially those trained in neurologically focused techniques, are uniquely equipped to see the bigger picture—because we don’t chase symptoms, we look at function.

Real Stories, Real Healing

I’ve had patients who came to me after years of suffering—fainting spells, panic attacks, exhaustion, and hopelessness. Many were told “it’s anxiety” or “you just need to rest.” One young woman with POTS had seen over 12 specialists, been put on four different medications, and still couldn’t stand for more than five minutes.

Within months of consistent chiropractic care, her dizziness lessened, her heart rate stabilized, and—most importantly—her hope returned.

Again, we did not treat POTS. We restored neurological integrity—and her body did what it was designed to do: heal.

What You Can Do

If you or someone you love is suffering from Dysautonomia-like symptoms, consider the following steps:

1. Get a nervous system evaluation from a neurologically focused chiropractor—including thermal scans, heart rate variability, and postural analysis.
2. Prioritize sleep, hydration, and nutrient-dense foods—these support your parasympathetic tone.
3. Practice vagus nerve stimulation—cold exposure, deep breathing, and singing can help tone the vagus nerve.
4. Minimize stressors—emotional, chemical, and physical.
5. Move your body gently—yoga, stretching, and walking can support lymphatic and nervous system flow.

Final Thoughts

Dysautonomia is real, and it’s not rare. It’s a modern epidemic of nervous system dysfunction—and the answer isn’t found in a pill bottle, but in reconnecting the brain and body through vitalistic principles.

As chiropractors, we believe that the body is intelligent. It doesn't make mistakes—it responds