Autonomic Nervous System Testing
Autonomic Nervous System Testing
“Creating Central Balance”
Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System
Our nervous system is comprised of many different components. Some portions help us think, control our emotions and manage the movement and balance of our body. Control of the ANS arises from the hypothalamus (an area deep within the brain) and the spinal cord and essentially coordinates the function of every organ in the human body.
Additionally, the ANS has 2 components known as the Sympathetic (S) and Parasympathetic arms (P). Think of these as a right and left hand that work together in unison. In the intestine for instance, when one contracts the intestine to push contents further down stream, the other relaxes area of the intestine to allow material to freely flow past.
Research has demonstrated for many years that ANS balance between the S and P arms is required for the maintenance of overall health. ANS imbalance tends to destabilize a patient’s response to therapy and disease, and over time leads to overt symptoms.
What Symptoms Does Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance Cause?
Many people who feel “normal” live with the subtle effects of ANS imbalance while many others have severe ANS imbalance to such a degree that it causes significant symptoms on a daily basis. Common symptoms associated with ANS imbalance are:
Lightheadedness or Dizzy Rapid Heart Rate
Sleep Disturbances Frequent Urination, day or night
Urinary Dribbling Abdominal Bloating
Rapid Fullness with Meals Frequent Nausea
Excessive Sensitivity to Light Erectile Dysfunction
Inability to Ejaculate Excessive Sweating
Flushing of the Skin Constipation
Heart Burn Dry mouth
Why Monitor for Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance?
ANS imbalance does not happen overnight; it occurs slowly over time. After a prolonged period, the imbalance leads to organ dysfunction, thereby resulting in symptoms and possible permanent damage of the ANS itself.
ANS dysfunction often precedes the symptoms associated with a variety of diseases. It is also believed to compromise a person’s quality of life and reduce their longevity. ANS monitoring allows clinicians to identify an individual’s unique physiologic differences, and more precisely monitor their response to disease and therapy.
We utilize on of the most sophisticated methods of ANS analysis, the ANX 3.0 developed after 30 years of research by the ANSAR Group. The ANX 3.0 is a FDA-approved method of accurately quantifying the functionality of both the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic components of your autonomic nervous system.
Diagnosis of Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance
Research into the anatomy, function and clinical importance of the ANS has been ongoing for several decades but only recently has the science advanced enough to allow clinicians to diagnose and treat ANS imbalances.
Treatments are available that can restore ANS balance, improve symptoms and ultimately lead to the discontinuation of one or several different medications being used to manage some of the symptoms listed above.
We are now incorporating a new FDA-approved, non-invasive method called Spectral Analysis to digitally monitor both branches of the ANS. ANS imbalance is now believed to be a major contributor of symptoms in a wide variety of disorders such as:
Insulin Resistance Metabolic Syndrome
HIV Disease High blood pressure
Diabetes Mellitus Multiple Sclerosis
Sleep disorders Post Heart Attack
Congestive Heart Failure Coronary Artery Disease
Abnormal Heart Rhythm Mitral Valve Prolapse
Asthma COPD
Menopause Symptoms Hypothyroidism
Depression Bipolar Disease
ADD ADHD
PTSD Anxiety
Obesity Neurological Disorders
Relationship Between Insulin Resistance & Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance
There is growing evidence that insulin resistance may not just be the effect of individuals being over weight as has been proposed. Unlike our pre-modern lifestyle, it is theorized that multiple aspects of our modern lifestyle such as physical activity, weight and our activity in accordance to day and night are all contributing to autonomic imbalance and insulin resistance (otherwise known as Metabolic Syndrome).
It is not fully understood if autonomic imbalance ultimately is the trigger for insulin resistance and its subsequently hazardous physical impact, but scientists believe there is a significant amount of bi-directional influence between the Autonomic Nervous System and the mechanisms of insulin resistance.
Treatment of Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance
Treatment involves determining the type and degree of ANS imbalance and utilizing certain medications to restore ANS balance within the hypothalamus.
For some individuals, treatment is required for only 6-12 months and can be tapered off leaving the ANS in balance while other individuals, especially those with severe symptoms initially, will require chronic therapy with low-dose medication to maintain their ANS balance. Fortunately, many of the medications used to re-establish ANS balance are very well tolerated and inexpensive.
Your Test Results and Treatment Plan
You testing results may indicate you have one of a variety of autonomic imbalance patterns such as:
- Paradoxical Parasympathetic Syndrome (PPS)
- Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN)
- Mild to Moderate Generalized Parasympathetic Dysfunction
- Sympathetic Withdrawal (SW)
- Sympathetic Dominance (SD)
- Orthostatic Intolerance
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
- Mild to Moderate Generalized Sympathetic Dysfunction
If so, treatment often consists of re-balancing the autonomic nervous system with a combination of diet and low dose medication therapy for approximately 6-12 months. After then, many patients are able to discontinue the medication and they will remain in balance for indefinitely afterwards.