Question

Autonomic nervous system :

Is a component of the peripheral nervous system, it regulates involuntary physiologic processes including heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, digestion. This system works automatically without a person’s conscious effort. Disorders of the autonomic nervous system can affect any body part or process. Autonomic disorders may be reversible or progressive. Apart of the autonomic nervous system there are three anatomically distinct divisions: sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric.

Somatic nervous system :

Contains both afferent nerves (which send information to the brain and spinal cord) , made of sensory neurons that inform the central nervous system about out five senses; sight, smell, taste, touch , hearing., and efferent nerves (which send information from the brain) , which contain motor neurons responsible for voluntary movements such as walking or lifting an object. In addition to regulating the voluntary movements of the body , the somatic nervous system is also responsible for a specific type of involuntary muscle responses known as reflexes , controlled by a neural pathway known as the reflex arc.

What are some diseases that are a result of autonomic nervous system disorders?

Answer 1

Diseases due to Autonomic Nervous system disorders:

The part of the nervous system that regulates the involuntary activity of the heart , intestines and glands. These activities include digestion , perspiration , respiration , metabolism and the modulation of Blood pressure.

The disorders of Autonomic Nervous system ( ANS) is due to the damage of neves in ANS. This condition is called as Autonomic Dysfunction, Dysautonomia or Autonomic neuropathy. The diseases due to Autonomic Dysfunctions may range from mild to moderate. They are:

* Orthostatic Hypotension:

It is characterised by the low blood pressure when a person stands up. Sudden drop of blood pressure causes decreased blood supply to the brain and the person feels light headedness.It may occur due to hot weather or dehydration. There is a risk of falling down due to Dizziness, but the condition can improve once the patient lie down or sits down.

* POTS ( Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome): Tachycardia is the abnormal increase in hear rate. Around 3 million people in the US are affected with POTS, especially women and teenagers.

Mutiple system Atrophy ( MSA):

It is a severe form , that resembles Parkinson's disease, and is a fatal one . No effective treatment for MSA and the cause also unknown.

* Holmes- Adie Syndrome ( HAS)

This Autonomic Nervous system Nervous system disease causes problems with vision, due to involvement of eye muscles. It also affects the deep tendon reflex .Eg: Achilles tendon. This dysfunction occurs due to the destruction of nerves as a result of inflammation of nerves due to viral inecions. Eye problems such as enlargement of one pupil and its slow constriction in bright light,  due to HAS can be treated with glasses and eye drops.

* Other diseases due to Autonomic Nervous system disorders are Nerocardiogenic syncope, sweating abnormalities, sexual problems etc. Autonomic dyufunction may occur due to unknown factors, heavy drinking, Uncontrolled High blood pressure ,Autoimmunity, Diabetes etc.