BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAutonomic neuropathyNeuropathy - autonomic; Autonomic nerve diseaseAutonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms that occur when there is damage to the nerves that manage normally automatic body functions. These functions include blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion. Causes Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms. It is not a specific disease. There are many causes.Autonomic neuropathy involves damage to the nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord. The information is then carried to the heart, blood vessels, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, and pupils.Autonomic neuropathy may be seen with:Alcohol abuse Diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) (diabetic neuropathy)Nerve damage that occurs in people with diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. This condition is a complication of diabetes.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Disorders involving scarring of tissues around the nerves Guillain Barré syndrome or other diseases that inflame nerves Guillain Barré syndromeGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a serious health problem that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the peripher...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inherited nerve disorders Multiple sclerosis Parkinson disease Parkinson diseaseParkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells help control movement and coordination. The disease leads to shaking (tremors...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal cord injury Surgery or injury involving the nerves Symptoms Symptoms vary, depending on the nerves affected. They usually develop slowly over years. Stomach and intestine symptoms may include:Constipation (hard stools) Diarrhea (loose stools) Feeling full after only a few bites (early satiety) Early satietySatiety is the satisfied feeling of being full after eating. Early satiety is feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea after eating Problems controlling bowel movements Problems controlling bowel movementsBowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control, causing you to unexpectedly pass stool. This can range from sometimes leaking a small amount of sto...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swallowing problems Swollen abdomen Swollen abdomenA swollen abdomen is when your belly area is bigger than usual.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting of undigested food Heart and lungs symptoms may include:Abnormal heart rate or rhythm Blood pressure drop with position that causes dizziness when standing High blood pressure Shortness of breath with activity or exercise Bladder symptoms may include:Difficulty beginning to urinate Difficulty beginning to urinateDifficulty starting or maintaining a urine stream is called urinary hesitancy.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying Leaking urine Other symptoms may include:Sweating too much or not enough Heat intolerance brought on with activity and exercise Heat intoleranceHeat intolerance is a feeling of being overheated when the temperature around you rises. It can often cause heavy sweating. Heat intolerance usually...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sexual problems, including erection problems in men and vaginal dryness and orgasm difficulties in women Small pupil in one eye Weight loss without trying Exams and Tests Signs of autonomic nerve damage are not always seen when your doctor examines you. Your blood pressure or heart rate may change when lying down, sitting, or standing. Special tests to measure sweating and heart rate may be done. This is called autonomic testing.Other tests depend on what type of symptoms you have. Treatment Treatment to reverse nerve damage is most often not possible. As a result, treatment and self-care are focused on managing your symptoms and preventing further problems.Your health care provider may recommend: Extra salt in the diet or taking salt tablets to increase fluid volume in blood vessels Fludrocortisone or similar medicines to help your body retain salt and fluid Medicines to treat irregular heart rhythms Pacemaker PacemakerA pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device. This device senses when your heart is beating too slowly. It sends a signal to your heart that mak...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sleeping with the head raised Wearing compression stockingsCompression stockingsYou wear compression stockings to improve blood flow in the veins of your legs. Compression stockings gently squeeze your legs to move blood up your...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following may help your intestines and stomach work better:Daily bowel care program Daily bowel care programHealth conditions that cause nerve damage can cause problems with how your bowels function. A daily bowel care program can help manage this problem ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Medicines that help the stomach move food through faster Sleeping with the head raised Small, frequent meals Medicines and self-care programs can help you if you have: Urinary incontinence Urinary incontinenceYou have urinary incontinence. This means you are not able to prevent urine from leaking from your urethra. This is the tube that carries urine out...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Neurogenic bladder Neurogenic bladderNeurogenic bladder is a problem in which a person lacks bladder control due to a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Erection problems Outlook (Prognosis) How well you do will depend on the cause of the problem and if it can be treated. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of autonomic neuropathy. Early symptoms might include:Becoming faint or lightheaded when standing Changes in bowel, bladder, or sexual function Unexplained nausea and vomiting when eating Early diagnosis and treatment may control symptoms.Autonomic neuropathy may hide the warning signs of a heart attack. Instead of feeling chest pain, if you have autonomic neuropathy, during a heart attack you may only have:Sudden fatigue Sweating Shortness of breath Nausea and vomiting Prevention Prevent or control associated disorders to reduce the risk for neuropathy. For example, people with diabetes should closely control blood sugar levels. Control blood sugar levelsWhen you have diabetes, you should have good control of your blood sugar (glucose). If your blood sugar is not controlled, serious health problems c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesKatirji B. Disorders of peripheral nerves. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 106.Smith G, Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 392.AllVideoImagesTogAutonomic Nerves - illustration Autonomic nerves are concerned with muscular functions which are reflexive, such as breathing, heartbeats and peristalsis (rhythmic movements of the intestines).Autonomic NervesillustrationCentral nervous system and peripheral nervous system - illustration The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Central nervous system and peripheral nervous systemillustrationAutonomic Nerves - illustration Autonomic nerves are concerned with muscular functions which are reflexive, such as breathing, heartbeats and peristalsis (rhythmic movements of the intestines).Autonomic NervesillustrationCentral nervous system and peripheral nervous system - illustration The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Central nervous system and peripheral nervous systemillustrationA Closer Look Diabetes - type 1 - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Alpha-lipoic acid(Alt. Medicine)Restless legs syndrome and related disorders - InDepth(In-Depth)Biofeedback(Alt. Medicine)Related Information Peripheral neuropathy(Condition)Peripheral(Special Topic)Central nervous system(Special Topic)Alcoholic neuropathy(Condition)Diabetes and nerve damage(Condition)Parkinson disease(Condition)Ulcers(Symptoms)Electrolytes(Special Topic)Low blood potassium(Condition)Acute kidney failure(Condition)Parkinson disease - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 11/2/2022 Reviewed By: Evelyn O. Berman, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Autonomic neuropathyNeuropathy - autonomic; Autonomic nerve diseaseAutonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms that occur when there is damage to the nerves that manage normally automatic body functions. These functions include blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion. Causes Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms. It is not a specific disease. There are many causes.Autonomic neuropathy involves damage to the nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord. The information is then carried to the heart, blood vessels, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, and pupils.Autonomic neuropathy may be seen with:Alcohol abuse Diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) (diabetic neuropathy)Nerve damage that occurs in people with diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. This condition is a complication of diabetes.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Disorders involving scarring of tissues around the nerves Guillain Barré syndrome or other diseases that inflame nerves Guillain Barré syndromeGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a serious health problem that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the peripher...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inherited nerve disorders Multiple sclerosis Parkinson disease Parkinson diseaseParkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells help control movement and coordination. The disease leads to shaking (tremors...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal cord injury Surgery or injury involving the nerves Symptoms Symptoms vary, depending on the nerves affected. They usually develop slowly over years. Stomach and intestine symptoms may include:Constipation (hard stools) Diarrhea (loose stools) Feeling full after only a few bites (early satiety) Early satietySatiety is the satisfied feeling of being full after eating. Early satiety is feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea after eating Problems controlling bowel movements Problems controlling bowel movementsBowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control, causing you to unexpectedly pass stool. This can range from sometimes leaking a small amount of sto...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swallowing problems Swollen abdomen Swollen abdomenA swollen abdomen is when your belly area is bigger than usual.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting of undigested food Heart and lungs symptoms may include:Abnormal heart rate or rhythm Blood pressure drop with position that causes dizziness when standing High blood pressure Shortness of breath with activity or exercise Bladder symptoms may include:Difficulty beginning to urinate Difficulty beginning to urinateDifficulty starting or maintaining a urine stream is called urinary hesitancy.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying Leaking urine Other symptoms may include:Sweating too much or not enough Heat intolerance brought on with activity and exercise Heat intoleranceHeat intolerance is a feeling of being overheated when the temperature around you rises. It can often cause heavy sweating. Heat intolerance usually...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sexual problems, including erection problems in men and vaginal dryness and orgasm difficulties in women Small pupil in one eye Weight loss without trying Exams and Tests Signs of autonomic nerve damage are not always seen when your doctor examines you. Your blood pressure or heart rate may change when lying down, sitting, or standing. Special tests to measure sweating and heart rate may be done. This is called autonomic testing.Other tests depend on what type of symptoms you have. Treatment Treatment to reverse nerve damage is most often not possible. As a result, treatment and self-care are focused on managing your symptoms and preventing further problems.Your health care provider may recommend: Extra salt in the diet or taking salt tablets to increase fluid volume in blood vessels Fludrocortisone or similar medicines to help your body retain salt and fluid Medicines to treat irregular heart rhythms Pacemaker PacemakerA pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device. This device senses when your heart is beating too slowly. It sends a signal to your heart that mak...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sleeping with the head raised Wearing compression stockingsCompression stockingsYou wear compression stockings to improve blood flow in the veins of your legs. Compression stockings gently squeeze your legs to move blood up your...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The following may help your intestines and stomach work better:Daily bowel care program Daily bowel care programHealth conditions that cause nerve damage can cause problems with how your bowels function. A daily bowel care program can help manage this problem ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Medicines that help the stomach move food through faster Sleeping with the head raised Small, frequent meals Medicines and self-care programs can help you if you have: Urinary incontinence Urinary incontinenceYou have urinary incontinence. This means you are not able to prevent urine from leaking from your urethra. This is the tube that carries urine out...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Neurogenic bladder Neurogenic bladderNeurogenic bladder is a problem in which a person lacks bladder control due to a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Erection problems Outlook (Prognosis) How well you do will depend on the cause of the problem and if it can be treated. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of autonomic neuropathy. Early symptoms might include:Becoming faint or lightheaded when standing Changes in bowel, bladder, or sexual function Unexplained nausea and vomiting when eating Early diagnosis and treatment may control symptoms.Autonomic neuropathy may hide the warning signs of a heart attack. Instead of feeling chest pain, if you have autonomic neuropathy, during a heart attack you may only have:Sudden fatigue Sweating Shortness of breath Nausea and vomiting Prevention Prevent or control associated disorders to reduce the risk for neuropathy. For example, people with diabetes should closely control blood sugar levels. Control blood sugar levelsWhen you have diabetes, you should have good control of your blood sugar (glucose). If your blood sugar is not controlled, serious health problems c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesKatirji B. Disorders of peripheral nerves. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 106.Smith G, Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 392.