Dysautonomia Specialists | Axon Integrative Health, Denver Colorado
The ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) is responsible for everything that is “automatic” within the body. How much air is taken in from a breath, how fast your heart is beating, how much you salivate and your eyes tear. It dictates how much blood flow is dispersed to your gut, your brain and to your muscles and extremities, regulating between fight and flight or rest and digest. It times our liver, gallbladder, and stomach secretions and it coordinates intestinal movement. The ANS will regulate temperature through sweat and blood flow, manages adrenal functions, bladder regulation, sexual functions, some hormonal control, and also reproductive organ health.
What is Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia is a dysfunction in the Autonomic Nervous System, and can result in changes and concerns in any area that it has control over. This usually presents with heart rate and temperature dysregulation first, commonly referred to as POTs and Raynauds, however these are simply specific symptomatic diagnoses under the “dysautonomia” umbrella and can likely include other autonomic findings outside of the POTs and Raynauds diagnoses such as gut dysfunctions or hormonal dysregulation.
Is Dysautonomia the sole problem?
Dysautonomia can be the concern itself, it can be part of other changes or symptoms that occur from some associated condition, or part of the root cause of your issues. Typical factors related to dysautonomia include hormonal dysregulation (usually caused by birth control or chronic exposure to hormone dysregulation like fragrances and soy), concussions, metabolic dysregulation, mental health concerns, sleep problems, stress, poor diet, toxin exposures (lyme, mold, viral, parasite, metals, pesticides), exercise intolerance, dizziness, cognitive disturbances, brain fog, anxiety, coordination problems and so much more.
Dysautonomia Treatment: Comprehensive Evaluation to Targeted Therapies
Typical treatment for dysautonomia starts with determining where in the “onion” your dysautonomia falls; what your symptoms are, how long you’ve been experiencing them, other associated factors, and what your goals are for treatment. We start with full examination and brain diagnostics for connectivity, neuropsych, balance, eye movements, and cognition. We will also order blood testing and specialty labs to pin point any underlying metabolic dysfunctions, gut dysregulations, and toxin presences. These could be a cause of the dysautonomia, or preventing you from healing from it. Typically the healing process is 4-6 months, however can be complicated by numerous things such as detoxification process, neurological or metabolic capacities, among others. Healing is not linear and you will likely feel multiple “up’s and down’s” before full resolution.
Typical Symptoms:
Orthostatic Intolerance: Patients may experience lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting upon standing, due to poor regulation of blood pressure and blood flow.
Tachycardia and Bradycardia: Dysautonomia can lead to irregular heartbeats, either too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia).
Gastrointestinal Issues: Digestive problems, including nausea, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, are common symptoms of Dysautonomia.
Sexual Dysfunction: Over or under arousal, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction
Chronic Pain: Heightened pain sensation, coupled pain and movement, postural dysfunctions, central sensitization, nociplastic pain.
Temperature Dysregulation: Patients may have difficulty maintaining a consistent body temperature, leading to excessive sweating or chills.
Fatigue and Cognitive Impairment: Dysautonomia can cause profound fatigue and cognitive difficulties, impacting daily activities.
Exercise Intolerance: Individuals may find it challenging to engage in physical activities due to increased symptoms during exercise.
Hopeful Treatments at Axon Integrative Health:
Neuromodulation for and Brain Rehab Brain Activation: Our team of specialists employ advanced neuromodulation techniques to stimulate the brainstem, which plays a crucial role in ANS regulation. This treatment aims to restore proper communication between the brain and autonomic nerves.
Aerobic Exercise for Improved Blood Flow: Regular aerobic exercise, under the guidance of our team of experts, can enhance blood flow, boost aerobic capacity, and improve overall autonomic function.
Red Light Therapy for Detox and Anti-Inflammation: Axon Integrative Health offers various forms of red light therapy, which utilizes specific wavelengths of light to promote cellular detoxification, reduce inflammation, and support tissue repair by enhancing the energy production system within our mitochondria (the powerhouses of each and every cell)
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Energy Pathways: HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, aiding in cellular energy production and reducing oxidative stress. This therapy can enhance overall energy levels in Dysautonomia patients as well as help encourage proper detoxification.
Typically we will address and help guide the Axon Big 5 – Nutrition, Sleep, Exercise, Breath, and Community followed by specifics for gut health, neurotransmitter balance, metabolic regulation, detoxification, inflammatory control, musculoskeletal control, movement patterns, pain regulation, and brain connectivity. During all of this we are actively working to stimulate various areas of the brain through targets functional neuro rehab exercises and techniques (possibles: Neuromuscular ReEducation, Sensory Motor Integration, Photobiomodulation, TLNS, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, tDCS, neurofeedback, functional movement, compression therapy, neurofeedback, IV therapy, Hyperbaric oxygen, supplements). We implement therapies for all layers of your “health onion” and for each section of Brain Body Mind that needs it – targeted just for you.
