Unstable blood pressure or pulse rate?

Have you been experiencing light-headedness, fainting spells, unstable blood pressure, especially low blood pressure, particularly upon standing), or abnormal heart racing? Then, this information may interest you.

When the control of the ‘automatic’ functions of the body –that is, blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, breathing, sweating, or digestion – is affected, this could be a sign of a medical condition which reflects a state of inadequate function (dysfunction) of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). It is medically named as ‘ANS dysfunction’, or simply dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is a disorder that affects the involuntary functions of our internal body. People living with a dysautonomia have trouble regulating these systems, which can result in a variety of complaints that can affect their quality of life. In other words, dysautonomia, or autonomic dysfunction, can involve various body systems. This specialised ‘autonomic’ nervous system automatically keeps an appropriate balance in our capacity to react quickly in an emergency ( ‘fight or flight’ responses), increasing our pulse rate or blood pressure – this is our ‘sympathetic’ nervous system in action.

On the other hand, the body actions needed to restore energy and rest (lowering the pulse rate and blood pressure) are in charge of the ‘parasympathetic’ nervous system, the one that works in an opposite way. A healthy state is an adequate balance between both branches of our autonomic nervous system. Accordingly, an imbalance is considered a dysautonomia. Symptoms of dysautonomia vary, and some individuals may experience fatigue, nausea, brain fog, and changes in body temperature, inappropriate sweating or episodic syncope (fainting, passing out, or blacking out) associated with a temporary loss of consciousness.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I HAVE A DYSAUTONOMIA?

There are many underlying conditions that can lead to a dysautonomia. Sometimes it is as a result of a previous viral infection, like COVID-19. Whatever the reason, its assessment is a specialised medical field that requires appropriate testing. For example, in order to assess how the blood pressure and heart rate respond to positional changes, we ask the patient to lie down and rest in a table that can be tilted at various angles, at the same time that we monitor their vital signs continuously (tilt table test).

In other cases, we measure the pulse rate changes in response to a deep breathing, or we evaluate how the heart responds to exercise. We can also analyse the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats (heart rate variability). All these tests can provide insights into the balance or a possible over- or under activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. In any case, an individualised assessment of each patient will always be made.

HOW TO RESET AN UNBALANCED NERVOUS SYSTEM NATURALLY

Practise deep and slow breathing, as this moves us out of our fight-or-flight response.

Good lifestyle adjustments are key. Exercise, adequate sleep, a balanced diet and good hydration, and reducing mental stress are important. In a person with a history of fainting, we also advise to avoid triggers like prolonged standing or hot, crowded places. Remember, the inside of our body is always working overtime to maintain a balanced, healthy state of being, and we should cooperate to this end.