Digestive Health Irritable Bowel Syndrome Related Conditions When You Have Dysautonomia and IBS at the Same Time By Barbara Bolen, PhD twitter Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome. Learn about our editorial process Barbara Bolen, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH on September 21, 2020 linkedin Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH on September 21, 2020 Print Over the years, I have heard from many IBS patients that they also deal with nervous system symptoms alongside their digestive symptoms. Often these symptoms occur in conjunction with bowel movements. This combination of nervous and digestive system dysfunction may be related to a health condition known as dysautonomia. Here is an overview of dysautonomia and its relationship with IBS. Jamie Grill / Getty Images What Is Dysautonomia? Dysautonomia is thought to be present when the autonomic nervous system does not function as it should. The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that is responsible for most of the unconscious working of the various organs and systems of our bodies, including such processes as respiration, digestion, and heart rate. The autonomic nervous system is broken down into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is the part responsible for our "fight or flight" response, with its symptoms of rapid heart rate, fast breathing and changes to the way blood flow is directed through the body. The parasympathetic nervous system is the part that works to maintain regular body functioning. In dysautonomia, there can be excessive sympathetic activity, with a possible failure of parasympathetic activity, resulting in dramatic and disruptive symptoms. Dysautonomia can involve localized or full-body neurological dysfunction. Dysautonomia is a catch-all term that encompasses many different health problems. In primary dysautonomia, there is a known injury to the nervous system secondary to an identified neurological illness. Secondary dysautonomias are those in which the neurological damage is the result of a non-neurological illness. Some dysautonomias are the result of medication side effects, while others are of unknown causes. Depending on the cause, dysautonomia can be short-term or chronic, and again, depending on the cause, improve or worsen over time. Some identifiable causes of dysautonomia include: AlcoholismDiabetesGuillain-Barre syndromeParkinson's disease Dysautonomia has also been associated with the following health problems: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)FibromyalgiaInappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST)Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)Panic disorderPostural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)Vasovagal syncope Dysautonomia is also known as "autonomic dysfunction," and when there is clear-cut damage to the autonomic nerves, as "autonomic neuropathy." Symptoms of Dysautonomia Dysautonomia can present itself in many ways. Orthostatic hypotension is seen as a classic symptom. This rapid drop in blood pressure when a person stands up results in a feeling of dizziness, weakness and in some cases, fainting. Other symptoms include: AnxietyBlurred visionDiscomfort during exerciseDizzinessExcessive sweatingFaintingFatigueGastrointestinal symptomsImpotenceLow blood pressureNumbnessRapid pulse rateSexual difficultiesTachycardiaTingling sensationsUrinary difficulties Overlap With IBS The research on the overlap of dysautonomia and IBS is limited. One published report involved a review of a large number of case-control studies that took measurements of markers of sympathetic nervous system functioning in a variety of health problems, including IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and interstitial cystitis. Such measurements included changes in heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, response to a tilt table test, and symptom questionnaires. Definitive answers from this review are clearly limited due to the wide variability of health problems, testing protocols and symptom measurements used in the case studies. However, it is notable that 65% of these studies found evidence of sympathetic nervous system hyper-reactivity. It is thought that chronic stress may contribute to the onset of these disorders, as well as to the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Interestingly, one small study found a "blunting" of autonomic system reactions to stimulation of the large intestine in IBS patients that was related to how long they had the disorder. This is in contrast to most published reports that show an increase in sympathetic reactivity to inner stimulation. It is unknown if this finding had to do with the type of stimulation used or if there are changes in autonomic reactivity over time. As you can see by the lack of research in the area, little is known as to why a person would have both IBS and dysautonomia. What to Do When You Have Both If you think you may have dysautonomia, see your doctor and discuss your symptoms. As of now, there is little in the way of pharmacological treatment for dysautonomia (or IBS for that matter). What is generally recommended for dysautonomia are therapies that may improve the functioning of your autonomic nervous system. Many of these are also helpful for IBS: Cognitive behavioral therapyDeep breathing exercisesProgressive muscle relaxationTai Chi The following self-care tips may help, particularly if you experience orthostatic hypotension: Be sure to drink plenty of water.Be sure to take in plenty of dietary fiber.Avoid eating too many fatty foods.When rising, be sure to stand up slowly, keeping the head lowered slightly. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! One of the most challenging aspects of having IBS is trying to figure out what's safe to eat. Our recipe guide makes it easier. Sign up and get yours now! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Dysautonomia information page. Updated March 27, 2019 Kingsley JD. Autonomic dysfunction in women with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14(1):103. doi:+10.1186/ar3728 Cleveland Clinic. What is dysautonomia? Reviewed August 11, 2015 Martínez-martínez LA, Mora T, Vargas A, Fuentes-iniestra M, Martínez-lavín M. Sympathetic nervous system dysfunction in fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis: a review of case-control studies. J Clin Rheumatol. 2014;20(3):146-50. doi:10.1097/RHU.0000000000000089 Cheng P, Shih W, Alberto M, et al. Autonomic response to a visceral stressor is dysregulated in irritable bowel syndrome and correlates with duration of disease. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2013;25(10):e650-9. doi:10.1111/nmo.12177 Additional Reading "Autonomic Neuropathy" Mayo Clinic "NINDS Dysautonomia Information Page" National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Cheng, P. "Autonomic response to a visceral stressor is dysregulated in irritable bowel syndrome and correlates with duration of disease" Neurogastroenterology & Motility 2013 10:650–e659. Martinez-Martinez, L., et.al. "Sympathetic Nervous System Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Interstitial Cystitis: A Review of Case-Control Studies" Journal of Clinical Rheumatology 2014 20:146–150. Reichgott, M. "Clinical Evidence of Dysautonomia " In: Walker, H. et.al. Editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 76.