Introduction A 41-year-old female presented with symptoms that started two years ago. She regularly experienced exercise intolerance, lightheadedness, headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. She reported having a high-stress job that is mentally and physically demanding. The patient experienced one episode of syncope while performing high intensity exercise. She stated that symptoms worsened after a COVID-19 infection.…
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How does the breath directly affect our brain function? Everybody knows that it is important to breathe because our brain needs a constant supply of oxygen – but did you know that you can use your breath to control certain areas of the brain? Surprisingly most of us know very little about the underlying mechanisms…
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We receive a lot of questions from our dysautonomia warriors about what diet and foods are important to avoid and eat when you have a dysautonomia. In this blog post, we will be talking about blood sugar regulation and its role with your brain health and how that relates to dysautonomia. Food = Fuel Everything…
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Introduction A 34-year-old female presented with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Her main complaints were dizziness and lightheadedness when standing up, especially in the mornings, bloating after meals, chronic fatigue and brain fog throughout the day. Examination Examination revealed a right vestibular and right pontomedullary reticular dysfunction. Patient’s orthostatic…
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Introduction A 37 year-old female presented with pre-syncope, fatigue, daily headaches, migraines, dizziness, visual disturbance, brain fog, chest pressure, sharp pain around the chest and insomnia. Symptoms began 2-3 weeks after a sinus infection and the use of Zithromax and Prednisone. She reports a medical history of cat scratch fever, EBV, chronic fatigue syndrome for…
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Introduction A 55 year-old male presented with constant head pressure, brain fog, headaches, chronic sinus infections, lung nodules, daily productive cough, dizziness, tinnitus and memory decline for the last 10 years. Examination and Diagnosis History examination revealed the patient had been exposed to toxic mold over 10 years ago and the patient suffered a severe…
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Introduction A 28 year old female presented with a moderate traumatic brain injury that was sustained during a motor vehicle accident. Her main complaints were fatigue, headache, and facial muscle paresis on the left side. Examination Examination revealed autonomic dysfunction with left sided brainstem dysfunction. Patient’s orthostatic vitals on the initial exam were as follows:…
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Introduction A 19 year-old female was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Patient had been wheelchair bound for nearly 3 years due to severe joint pain, vertigo and dizziness making her unable to walk without falling. Her chief complaints were chronic vertigo, dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, lightheadedness and nausea.…
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By now, most of us have read about the long-term effects that COVID-19 is having on some of the population. This is being called “Long COVID.” The long-term effects can almost all be categorized under the umbrella term “dysautonomia,” or the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. As functional neurologists, we have known for a…
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Introduction A 13 year-old female presented with POTS and intermittent vasovagal syncope. Her chief complaints were syncopal episodes, difficulty with motor coordination, numbness in legs, anxiety, chest pain, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. Examination and Diagnosis A neurological examination revealed right cerebellar dysfunction, orthostatic intolerance, and a decreased cortisol awakening response. Treatment The patient was initially…
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