October is observed annually as Dysautonomia Awareness Month—a month dedicated to focusing the spotlight on this often overlooked and misunderstood medical condition. Dysautonomia is used to describe a collection of disorders that affect a person’s autonomic nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for controlling blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and even digestion. A disruption in this system can result in a variety of different symptoms, including anxiety, an abnormally slow or fast heart rate, excessive sweating or the inability to sweat, fatigue, and a number of other problems.

It’s estimated that approximately 3 million people in the U.S. are affected by Dysautonomia, but even so, it’s still a group of disorders that remains unknown to much of the public. This observance month attempts to change that fact and help raise the public’s awareness about these conditions.

The History of Dysautonomia Awareness Month

This observance month hasn’t been around for very long. In fact, it’s only a little over a decade old. It was first created in 2012 by Dysautonomia International. This organization created this month to raise awareness, as we stated earlier, but also to advance research and advocacy goals.

Another reason for the creation of this observance month is to advocate for and support the people who suffer from this mysterious medical condition.

The Importance of Dysautonomia Awareness

This month is an important platform for education and advocacy. It’s a way to raise awareness so that the knowledge gap between medical professionals and the general public can be bridged. That’s why everyone needs to consider a few key points during this holiday. We’ve listed these points below.

• Celebration of this month can lead to early detection and diagnosis. This allows for the appropriate treatment to be undertaken immediately.
• This awareness month can help create online communities and support groups for patients.
• This month can also help to foster empathy and understanding, so society can be more inclusive for people with this condition.

Observing Dysautonomia Awareness Month

During this month, everyone is encouraged to wear teal to show support for people with this medical condition. This can be a teal-colored article of clothing or a teal wristband. It’s also a good month for people to learn more about this condition and the impacts that it can have on a person’s health.

This is also a good month for people to attend a virtual conference about dysautonomia or to bring a speaker to your workplace or school who is an expert on this condition. People can also spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #DysautonomiaAwarenessMonth.