Your autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls many aspects of your life and health. It is responsible for regulating heart rate, digestion, breathing, blood pressure, and other critical functions. Many conditions can impact the health of the ANS and lead to disruptive symptoms.
A health practitioner may use specialized testing methods to assess the functioning of your autonomic nervous system (ANS). This type of testing is called autonomic assessment. Several types of tests fall under this category. All can identify autonomic neuropathy, which is defined as symptoms related to ANS dysfunction.
Many conditions can cause autonomic neuropathy, including autoimmune diseases, infections, and diabetes. Assessing the function of the ANS can help track the progress of these conditions and guide treatment plans.
Autonomic neuropathy can impair daily functioning and quality of life. If you or a loved one struggles with symptoms of autonomic neuropathy, autonomic assessment can help you get to the root of the issue. Contact The Hartman Center specialists to learn more about autonomic assessment and how it can help track and treat a range of medical conditions.
What is an Autonomic Assessment?
Autonomic assessment involves non-invasive testing methods that measure the functioning of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Health practitioners use a variety of testing techniques to assess how well the ANS regulates:
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Sweating
- Digestion
- Sexual functioning
- Breathing
- Other autonomic functions
Many health conditions can impact how the ANS functions. Assessing for autonomic neuropathy can help people identify and address these symptoms. It can also help medical professionals track the progress of a health condition, such as infection or diabetes.
Health practitioners choose the best form of autonomic testing for each patient based on their symptoms or condition. This specialized testing can help medical professionals explore the neurological basis of a patient’s symptoms and find the most effective course of treatment.
What Conditions Can an Autonomic Assessment Identify?
Autonomic testing can help to identify autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. ANS dysfunction can present with a range of symptoms that depend on what part of the nervous system is affected.
Here is an overview of how autonomic nervous system dysfunction may present.
Bladder and urinary symptoms
The ANS is responsible for several aspects of urinary and bladder functioning. Some symptoms of ANS dysfunction can include:
- Difficulty with urination
- Leakage
- Frequent urination
Autonomic testing can help to identify neurological foundations for these symptoms and help to find effective treatments.
Sexual symptoms
ANS dysfunction can cause symptoms related to sexual functioning, including:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Vaginal dryness
- Low libido
Autonomic testing can help to determine if ANS dysfunction is responsible for these and other sexual health symptoms.
Respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for many cardiovascular and respiratory functions. Dysfunction in the ANS may result in:
- Shortness of breath with activity
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Elevated heart rate
Autonomic assessment can identify the roots of these symptoms and guide treatment plans.
Digestive symptoms
The autonomic nervous system controls aspects of digestion. Autonomic neuropathy may lead to GI symptoms, including:
- Constipation
- Difficulty swallowing
- Abdominal bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Feeling full after eating very little
- Appetite loss
- Heartburn
Nerve damage in the stomach and digestive tract can cause disruptive or uncomfortable symptoms. Autonomic testing can help medical professionals identify ANS dysfunction responsible for these symptoms and create more effective treatment plans to relieve them.
Other symptoms
People with autonomic neuropathy may have other symptoms in various bodily systems, including:
- Dizziness when moving from sitting to standing
- Exercise intolerance (heart rate remains stable during physical activity instead of rising)
- Slow pupillary reactions that can prevent the eye from adjusting to light changes in the environment
- Inability to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar
- Fainting due to sudden bouts of low blood pressure
- Excessive or insufficient sweating
If you or a loved one is experiencing new, changing, or worsening physical symptoms, consult a medical professional right away. Autonomic testing can help you pinpoint the underlying causes of your symptoms, track the progression of a medical condition, or help you develop the most effective treatment plan possible.
How to Use Autonomic Assessment to Monitor Disease Progression
Standard health evaluations may miss autonomic neuropathy. A person’s symptoms may be ignored or considered part of a more extensive condition.
However, autonomic nervous system testing can reveal a lot about how a person’s body is functioning and the progression of a condition. First, health practitioners may use autonomic assessment to diagnose conditions like diabetes, autoimmune diseases, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and Parkinson’s. Then, continuing autonomic testing can provide valuable information about how the condition is progressing and what treatments are effective.
Here is an overview of how autonomic assessment can help practitioners track the progress of a medical condition.
Identify autonomic dysfunction
Autonomic nervous system dysfunction can cause a range of disruptive symptoms. Medical conditions and diseases may impair ANS functioning, leading to symptoms that autonomic testing can identify.
Early autonomic testing can help to establish a baseline of functioning, allowing practitioners to identify disease progression as time goes on.
Guide care plans
Autonomic testing can help to identify how conditions like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), infection, diabetes, and others are affecting the body. Medical professionals can use the information they gain from autonomic testing to create targeted treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Track disease progression
Autonomic testing can provide a baseline of symptoms and ANS functioning. Practitioners can use it to determine whether medical conditions are improving or declining over time. This information can help people receive more personalized therapies and better understand their condition.
Autonomic testing provides valuable information that can help people treat or manage diseases more effectively. Contact The Hartman Center specialists to learn more about autonomic testing or to schedule an intake appointment.
What Happens During an Autonomic Assessment?
Knowing what to expect before, during, and after an autonomic assessment can help you feel more confident seeking this type of care. Here is an overview of what to expect throughout the autonomic testing process.
Preparing for an autonomic assessment
Your health practitioner will advise you about what to do before your assessment. This may include:
- Avoiding caffeine
- Avoiding alcohol
- Not smoking
- Drinking non-caffeinated beverages to stay hydrated
Your practitioner will also tell you if you must stop taking medications before the testing.
Tilt table test
A tilt table test can safely evaluate how posture changes impact your blood pressure and heart rate. During this assessment:
- You will lie on a motorized table with a footrest and safety straps
- The practitioner will place electrodes and blood pressure cuffs
- You will lie flat on the table for about 15 minutes
- The practitioner then tilts the table to an upright position, where you will remain for up to 45 minutes
- The practitioner will measure your blood pressure and heart rate throughout the procedure
The tilt table test is a safe, noninvasive way to learn how the ANS regulates heart rate and blood pressure during position changes.
Your health care provider will assess the results of your tilt table test to create a holistic picture of your autonomic functioning related to blood pressure. This can help your treatment team identify or track changes in your health and develop effective care plans to address your symptoms.
Deep breathing test and Valsalva maneuver
This type of testing measures heart rate and blood pressure in response to specific breathing patterns. The practitioner uses electrodes and blood pressure monitors to gather data during these tests.
In the deep breathing test, the patient breathes deeply and slowly for a full minute. In the Valsalva maneuver, the patient breathes through a mouthpiece.
These assessments can provide insight into how effectively the ANS can regulate heart rate and blood pressure.
Transcranial ultrasound
A transcranial ultrasound (sometimes called a Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound) is a form of autonomic testing that measures blood flow in the brain. This painless, non-invasive test can provide information about the health of the brain’s arteries by assessing the direction and speed of blood flow.
A medical practitioner may use transcranial ultrasound testing to detect or monitor several conditions, including:
- The risk of stroke in people with sickle cell disease
- Small blood clots
- Narrowing of arteries in the brain
- A brain aneurysm rupture
- Changes in intracranial pressure
- Blood flow after traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Brain stem death
Practitioners may use a portable machine to perform this testing. To prepare for this test, patients may need to:
- Remove contact lenses
- Remove head coverings
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 front or back of the neck, cheekbone, by the ear, or over an eyelid.
Next, the practitioner will use a wand connected to a machine to monitor these areas. In some cases, patients may wear a fitted headpiece that provides continuous monitoring. Patients must remain still and refrain from talking during the testing period. Testing may take 30 to 60 minutes.
Colored pictures or graphs will appear on the machine’s screen. The practitioner will assess the data provided and relay the information to you at a later time. After testing, you may return to your usual daily activities.
After you complete autonomic testing, your health practitioner will advise you about what to expect next. Autonomic assessments provide valuable information about how your autonomic nervous system is functioning. Your practitioner will explain your test results and help you develop the most effective treatment plan to manage your symptoms.
Learn More About Autonomic Assessment
Autonomic assessment is a valuable tool for diagnosing, tracking, and treating various medical conditions. Contact The Hartman Center specialists to learn more about its benefits or to schedule an intake appointment.