Understanding Dysautonomia
The Autonomic Nervous System + Where Chiropractic Care Fits
Dizziness when standing. A racing heart. Digestive changes. Feeling unusually tired, light-headed or unable to tolerate exercise.
When symptoms seem to involve several different parts of the body, it can be difficult to understand how they might be connected.
For people diagnosed with dysautonomia, part of the answer lies in the autonomic nervous system — the network responsible for regulating many of the functions we don't consciously control.
Understanding what dysautonomia is, how the autonomic nervous system works and where different healthcare approaches fit can make navigating these symptoms a little clearer.
What is dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia is an umbrella term used to describe disorders involving dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
The autonomic nervous system helps regulate automatic processes throughout the body, including:
heart rate
blood pressure
breathing
digestion
sweating
body temperature
pupil responses
bladder function.
Because the ANS influences so many different functions, dysautonomia can present differently from person to person.
Some forms are relatively mild, while others can have a significant impact on everyday life.
Understanding the autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system includes two branches that are often simplified as the body's “gas pedal” and “brake pedal”.
The sympathetic nervous system: the gas pedal
The sympathetic nervous system helps prepare the body for activity and challenge.
It can increase heart rate, redirect blood flow and increase alertness when your body needs to respond to what's happening around you.
The parasympathetic nervous system: the brake pedal
The parasympathetic nervous system supports functions associated with rest, digestion and recovery.
The vagus nerve is an important part of this system and provides communication between the brainstem and organs throughout the chest and abdomen.
Both sides are essential.
A healthy autonomic nervous system isn't one that's always calm. It's one that can appropriately adapt to changing demands.
What can dysautonomia feel like?
Symptoms vary depending on the individual and the type of autonomic dysfunction involved.
They may include:
dizziness or light-headedness
fainting or feeling close to fainting
changes in heart rate
heart palpitations
fatigue
exercise intolerance
digestive changes
nausea
changes in sweating
difficulty regulating body temperature
headaches
sleep disturbances
brain fog or difficulty concentrating.
These symptoms aren't specific to dysautonomia and can occur with many other health conditions, which is why appropriate medical assessment is important.
POTS + dysautonomia
One form of dysautonomia that has received increasing attention is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
POTS is characterised by an abnormal increase in heart rate after moving into an upright position, alongside symptoms of orthostatic intolerance.
Someone with POTS may experience dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, weakness, brain fog or exercise intolerance when standing.
POTS is a recognised medical condition and requires appropriate medical assessment and diagnosis. Chiropractic care does not diagnose or treat POTS.
Why can dysautonomia affect so many different areas?
The autonomic nervous system has connections throughout the body.
Rather than controlling just one organ, it helps coordinate multiple systems at the same time.
This means a disruption in autonomic function may be experienced across cardiovascular, digestive, temperature-regulation and other body systems.
It can also mean someone's symptoms don't always fit neatly into one category.
Understanding this broader nervous-system involvement can sometimes help make sense of why symptoms that initially seem unrelated may occur together.
What can influence autonomic function?
Autonomic function is complex, and dysautonomia doesn't have one universal cause.
Depending on the specific condition, contributing factors may include genetics, autoimmune processes, neurological conditions, infections, certain medications, injury or other underlying health conditions.
Stress can also influence autonomic activity.
That doesn't mean stress causes dysautonomia, or that dysautonomia is simply a matter of being “stuck in fight or flight”.
For someone experiencing persistent symptoms, investigating possible underlying causes with an appropriately qualified medical practitioner is important.
The vagus nerve
The vagus nerve — cranial nerve X — is the longest cranial nerve and an important component of the parasympathetic nervous system.
It travels from the brainstem through the neck and into the chest and abdomen, contributing to functions including heart rate, digestion and communication between the brain and internal organs.
You may hear terms such as “vagal tone” used in conversations about nervous-system regulation.
While vagal activity is an important area of autonomic physiology, symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, digestive changes or poor sleep aren't enough on their own to conclude that someone has “poor vagal tone” or vagus nerve dysfunction.
Where does stress fit?
Stress and the autonomic nervous system are closely connected.
When your brain perceives a challenge, sympathetic activity can increase to help your body respond. Once the demand has passed, other regulatory processes help the body adjust again.
Periods of prolonged physical or emotional stress can influence sleep, heart rate, digestion, muscle tension and how we feel day to day.
This is a normal part of human physiology.
However, persistent symptoms shouldn't automatically be attributed to stress. Particularly when symptoms include fainting, significant heart-rate changes, chest pain or ongoing dizziness, medical assessment is important.
Where does chiropractic care fit?
Chiropractic care isn't a treatment or cure for dysautonomia, POTS or other autonomic disorders.
At Restore, our chiropractors assess the neuromusculoskeletal system. This may include considering joint movement, muscle function, physical tension and other relevant findings based on someone's presentation.
The nervous and musculoskeletal systems interact closely, so a chiropractic assessment can provide information about how the body is moving and responding to physical demands.
Where chiropractic care is clinically appropriate, recommendations are based on an individual's history, examination and assessment findings.
The goal isn't to claim to “reset” the autonomic nervous system or correct the underlying cause of dysautonomia.
For someone with diagnosed or suspected dysautonomia, chiropractic care should sit alongside — rather than replace — appropriate medical management.
What about INSiGHT Scans?
At Restore, INSiGHT scanning technology may form part of a broader chiropractic assessment.
Depending on what is clinically appropriate, this can include:
Surface EMG — measures electrical activity associated with muscles along the spine.
Thermal scanning — measures patterns of skin temperature.
Heart rate variability (HRV) — measures variation in the timing between heartbeats and can provide information related to autonomic activity.
These tools don't diagnose dysautonomia, POTS, vagus nerve dysfunction or another medical condition.
Instead, information from scans is considered alongside your health history, clinical examination and other relevant findings.
Supporting your nervous system day to day
For people experiencing autonomic symptoms, management depends heavily on the underlying condition and should be guided by the appropriate healthcare team.
More broadly, everyday habits that support general health may include prioritising sleep, regular movement where appropriate, balanced nutrition, managing daily stressors and allowing adequate time for recovery.
For diagnosed conditions such as POTS, specific recommendations around exercise, hydration, salt intake or medication should come from the healthcare professionals managing your condition rather than being applied as general advice.
When should you seek medical advice?
Speak with your GP if you're experiencing persistent or unexplained symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, palpitations, significant changes in heart rate, unusual fatigue or exercise intolerance.
Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms such as chest pain, severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness or other sudden or severe symptoms.
Looking at the bigger picture
The autonomic nervous system is incredibly complex.
Understanding its role can provide useful context for symptoms involving multiple areas of the body — but it's equally important not to attribute every symptom to “nervous system dysregulation”.
At Restore, our role is to listen, understand your history, assess what's relevant within our chiropractic scope and communicate clearly about whether chiropractic care may have a role in supporting your neuromusculoskeletal health.
When other assessment or care is needed, working collaboratively with your GP or other healthcare professionals remains an important part of the picture.
Important information
This article provides general educational information and isn't intended to diagnose, treat or cure dysautonomia, POTS or another medical condition. Chiropractic care should not replace appropriate medical assessment or treatment for autonomic disorders.
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Original article: Dysautonomia and Chiropractic Care
Original author: Dr Tony Ebel, DC, CPPFC, CCWP
Updated: March 2025
Adapted for Restore Chiropractic Studio, AustraliaOriginal source: Dr Tony Ebel, Dysautonomia and Chiropractic Care, PX Docs, updated 13 March 2025. The original article discusses dysautonomia through the PX Docs framework, including autonomic regulation, the gas/brake analogy, digestive and immune concerns, mental health, subluxation and chiropractic care.