Autonomic Testing

The Autonomic Nervous System is a constituent of the peripheral nervous system that controls various involuntary functions of the body ranging from heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, urination, digestion, and arousal etc. The ANS connects the organs it controls to the brain and the spinal cord via receptors.

Excessive sweating, urination, rapid changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and problems with digestion can be bothersome to a lot of people. Oftentimes, these are symptoms of some underlying issues of the autonomic nervous system.

It is estimated that around 50 to 70% of the population of America suffers from some imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. So, if you or someone you know is suffering from these symptoms, get yourself tested right away so that you can be treated before the condition gets worse.

We at Manhattan Medical Arts are always available to provide you with the best of medical care from our highly efficient and trained staff, as well as our board-certified doctors.

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What is an Autonomic Test?

Autonomic Nervous System testing is useful for prompt and early detection of complications pertaining to different disease processes; namely diabetic neuropathy, orthostatic and postprandial hypotension, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, familial dysautonomia etc.

Sudoscan or Quantitative Sudomotor Axon Reflex Test (QSART) is a type of ANS test that has been approved by the FDA to assess the autonomic nerves responsible for sweating via galvanic dermal feedback.

In the first phase of the test, a faint electrical current is passed through the nerves of the sweat glands of the skin, in order to induce sweating in the glands. Sudoscan aids the physician in measuring the chloride ions released by the sweat glands in response to the electrical stimulus.

This test is akin to the cardiac stress test in that it is similar to the ways stress increases the activity of the cardiac muscle, electrical stimulation of the sweat glands should produce excess sweat, failure to do so will indicate a dysfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System.

During the second phase, an electrocardiogram is used to measure the blood pressure and the heart rate. This investigation also includes carrying out head-up tilting, valsalva maneuver, transcranial doppler and deep breathing exercises. It depends upon the symptoms of the patient which other physiological functions need to be tested.

Purpose of an Autonomic Test

The purpose of an Autonomic Test is to rule out diseases of the Autonomic Nervous System by checking some of the following symptoms:

Shortness of breath
Fainting and vertigo
Changing blood pressure
Bladder dysfunction
Weariness
Burning and numbness of the peripheries

How the Autonomic Test Gets Done?

Autonomic neuropathy testing is a pretty simple procedure that is performed on an out-patient basis.

Before starting the procedure, you will be placed on a chair by one of our staff. Then, our technologist will take your baseline measurements, such as your blood pressure, pulse rate, rate of breathing, and oxygen saturation. After the baseline measurements, you will be asked to put your feet on the galvanic metal plates.

A mild electrical stimulus will be applied. You will be asked to do various small exercises. For example, you will be asked to take deep breaths, which is the parasympathetic trial of deep respiration, the measurements mentioned above will be taken and then their return to baseline will be calculated.

Next, the sympathetic trial will be given to you with the help of a short series of valsalva maneuvers. Measurements will be taken as well on their return to baseline after the maneuvers. The quick postural difference between sitting and standing will also be calculated. This will be followed by quiet standing.

Before your autonomic neuropathy test, our staff will walk you through the entire study and explain its requirements in detail so that you get yourself tested without any queries.