Dysautonomia (dis’-oughta-know’-me-uh) refers to a group of conditions where your autonomic nervous system (ANS) is dysfunctional. Your ANS is the part of your nervous system that controls essential functions you don't consciously think about, like your heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and digestion. It’s your autopilot, and when your autopilot is malfunctioning, it can be very difficult to live a normal life.

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Most people with Sjogren's have some degree of dysautonomia, and it can vary a lot from person to person. Even mild dysautonomia can contribute to profound fatigue, cognitive problems (brain fog), nausea.  It also plays a significant role in gut and bladder issues and can worsen dry eyes and dry mouth.

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A common form of dysautonomia caused by Sjogren's is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS can make it very hard to stand or even sit upright, causing symptoms such as lightheadedness and rapid heart rate within minutes. Since we need to be upright for most daily activities, this can lead to a severe loss of function and quality of life. 

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The good news is that POTS and many other forms of dysautonomia can be treated. The bad news is that many doctors aren't trained to recognize, diagnose, or treat dysautonomia, and they may not even know that Sjogren's can cause it.

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Thank You

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