Autonomic disorders and their recognition

Determining what type of autonomic dysfunction patients have is crucial in determining what treatment they will receive. The autonomic nervous system controls many vital processes in the body such as body temperature and blood pressure. It can occur as a primary disease or secondary to another disease such as diabetes or spinal cord injury. Signs and symptoms include orthostatic hypotension, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and visual disorders. Some types of autonomic dysfunction occur in the spinal cord while others occur in the peripheral nervous system.