The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a vital role in many aspects of your health and essential functioning. The ANS controls automatic functions like breathing, digestion, heart rate, and more.
The health and vitality of your ANS are essential to your holistic health. Problems with the ANS can result in symptoms that disrupt your daily functioning and quality of life.
An autonomic assessment is a form of testing that evaluates the health and function of the ANS. Autonomic assessment can identify autonomic neuropathy, a condition caused by a range of chronic illnesses and other conditions.
An autonomic assessment is a critical component of personalized medicine. Undergoing an autonomic assessment can lead to a better understanding and treatment of disruptive symptoms. This type of testing means better identification of conditions, more effective tracking of disease progression, and more personalized treatment.
Contact The Hartman Center specialists to learn more about the role of autonomic assessment in personalized medicine. Explore the benefits of a holistic approach to healthcare or schedule an appointment by reaching out today.
What is Personalized Medicine?
Modern traditional healthcare systems often focus on treating a person’s symptoms instead of exploring and treating the roots of health issues. Medical professionals may focus primarily on reducing symptoms and apply a “one-size-fits-all” approach to disease management.
Personalized medicine offers a different way to treat health conditions. Instead of using standardized means of managing symptoms, holistic health practitioners work to understand a person’s health on a deeper level. They perform tests and treatments that get to the root of health problems. This can lead to more effective management and improved long-term quality of life.
Here is an overview of some key concepts related to personalized medicine.
Individualized care
Personalized medicine is an alternative to the standardized treatment many people are used to. Personalized medicine providers use innovative assessment processes to identify the cause of symptoms instead of simply treating them.
People in personalized medicine programs receive individualized assessment. Their providers tailor treatment plans that fit their unique needs. Instead of viewing people as a set of symptoms or health conditions, personalized medicine professionals look at a person’s entire health profile, including their lifestyle, symptoms, goals, and more.
A focus on prevention
Personalized medicine focuses on preventing disease and health conditions instead of simply treating the symptoms of these conditions later on. Specialized assessments can identify risk factors for certain conditions, allowing people to work with their healthcare providers to create effective prevention plans.
Early detection
Autonomic assessments and other forms of testing can identify conditions early in their progression. This allows people to begin management and preventative therapies sooner, which may result in limited progression.
Personalized medicine considers the role of genetics, lifestyle, behaviors, environment, and other factors. Healthcare providers develop a holistic profile of their patients’ health, allowing them to create more effective prevention and treatment plans.
Contact The Hartman Center to learn more about personalized medicine or to schedule an appointment for one of our services.
What is the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls many automatic bodily functions, including:
- Pupillary reactions
- Heart rate
- Digestion
- Breathing
- Blood pressure
- Salivation
There are two parts of the ANS: The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for excitatory activity related to the body’s “fight or flight” system. Some experts refer to the sympathetic nervous system as “the body’s emergency response” because of its role in producing adrenaline and other responses during stress. For example, the parasympathetic system may increase heart rate and blood pressure in response to a frightening stimulus.
The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body’s “rest and digest” functions. It reduces excitatory activity during times of low stress, relaxation, and sleep. For example, it may slow the heart rate and stimulate digestion in the calm evening hours.
The ANS is critical to a person’s ability to survive and function. However, this system is prone to imbalances and dysregulation. Even relatively slight autonomic nervous system dysregulation can cause a range of uncomfortable or disruptive symptoms.
Recognizing autonomic nervous system dysregulation can help people understand and address it. This may help reduce disease progression or decrease symptoms of ANS dysfunction.
Contact The Hartman Center to learn more about the role of the ANS in holistic health or to schedule an autonomic assessment.
What is an Autonomic Assessment?
An autonomic assessment is an evaluation that can determine the functioning of your autonomic nervous system (ANS). It is a non-invasive form of testing that provides information about ANS functioning, including:
- Blood pressure regulation
- Sweat response
- Heart rate
- Bladder function
Autonomic assessments explore the root causes of symptoms. It evaluates the presence or progression of autonomic neuropathy.
Autonomic neuropathy can show up in symptoms that affect different bodily systems. People with autonomic neuropathy may experience:
- Bladder and urinary symptoms, such as urine leakage or frequent urination
- Digestive symptoms, like heartburn, constipation, bloating, or diarrhea
- Sexual symptoms, such as libido changes or dysfunction
- Cardiovascular symptoms, such as high heart rate, shortness of breath, or weakness
- Other symptoms, including dizziness upon standing, excessive or insufficient sweating, frequent fainting, and slow pupillary reactions
Autonomic testing explores the causes of these and other symptoms related to ANS dysfunction. This type of testing provides valuable information that a holistic health practitioner can use to provide effective, comprehensive treatment.
Contact the specialists at The Hartman Center to learn more about autonomic assessments or to schedule a service today.
What is the Purpose of an Autonomic Assessment?
An autonomic assessment is a non-invasive way to test autonomic nervous system functioning. People may undergo autonomic assessment when identifying, monitoring, or treating various conditions.
Here is an overview of how people integrate autonomic assessment into a personalized medicine approach to condition management.
Assessing chronic conditions
Autonomic neuropathy can be a symptom of several chronic conditions, including:
- Infection
- Autoimmune conditions
- HIV
- Diabetes
Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy can be inconsistent, vague, or systemwide. Differing or inconsistent symptoms can make it challenging to diagnose chronic conditions properly.
Autonomic assessment can pinpoint the systems affected by autonomic neuropathy. This can help practitioners diagnose conditions and treat them more effectively.
Monitoring disease progression
Autonomic testing provides a baseline of ANS functioning and symptoms of neuropathy. Holistic practitioners can use this information to track the progression or improvement of chronic conditions.
Guiding treatment
Autonomic assessment can track the progress or improvement of conditions. This allows holistic health practitioners to adjust treatment to meet each person’s unique needs.
Contact The Hartman Center practitioners to learn more about the benefits of having an autonomic assessment or to schedule a procedure.
What Happens During an Autonomic Assessment?
Autonomic assessment can give you and your healthcare providers a more holistic picture of your nervous system functioning. Understanding what to expect during this type of assessment may help you feel more comfortable throughout the evaluation process.
Here is a quick overview of what happens during different forms of autonomic testing.
Getting ready for autonomic assessment
Your practitioner may advise you on how to prepare for autonomic testing. This may include avoiding caffeine, not smoking, and not taking specific medications.
Tilt table test
The tilt table test is a noninvasive way to evaluate how your nervous system regulates blood pressure and heart rate during position changes.
During this test, you will lie on a motorized table. Your practitioner will adjust the position of the table and monitor your blood pressure and heart rate. This test takes about an hour.
Deep breathing test and Valsalva maneuver
These types of testing can measure blood pressure and heart rate during specific breathing patterns. This can give practitioners valuable information about the nervous system’s ability to regulate these systems.
Transcranial ultrasound
A transcranial ultrasound is a form of autonomic testing that measures blood flow in the brain. This non-invasive test provides information about the health of the arteries responsible for blood flow in the brain. It may detect or monitor conditions including:
- Blood flow after traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Narrowing of arteries in the brain
- Changes in intracranial pressure
- Brain stem death
- The risk of stroke in people with sickle cell disease
- Small blood clots
- A brain aneurysm rupture
During the test, the patient will lie on an exam table or sit in a chair. Then, the practitioner will apply water-soluble gel to the area being tested.
Then, the practitioner will use a wand connected to a machine to monitor these areas. Testing may take 30 to 60 minutes.
After participating in autonomic testing, your healthcare provider will assess the data and explain their findings. Then, you will work with your health team to develop the most effective and personalized treatment plan to address your symptoms.
Get an Autonomic Assessment
A holistic approach to healthcare can mean a better understanding and more effective treatment of your symptoms. An autonomic assessment may be an essential part of your personalized health journey. Contact The Hartman Center now to learn about the benefits of including autonomic testing in your treatment plan or to schedule a procedure.