admin Medical researchers at the University of Calgary have identified that a condition affecting the body’s automatic processes—such as heart rate, bladder function, and sweating—frequently appears in individuals diagnosed with long COVID.
This condition, known as dysautonomia, is an umbrella term for a range of related disorders. Support networks for sufferers are working to raise awareness throughout October, which has been designated Dysautonomia Awareness Month by the advocacy group Dysautonomia International.
According to research led by Dr. Satish Raj, a cardiologist and specialist in autonomic health at the University of Calgary, as many as 30 per cent of long COVID patients also meet the criteria for a condition known as POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a form of dysautonomia.
Dysautonomia International notes that other studies estimate this figure to be between 70 and 90 per cent.
The difficulty with dysautonomia lies in the nature of its symptoms, which are often overlooked. “Who really enjoys discussing their sweating issues?” comments Dr. Raj. “No one does that… Yet these processes are crucial for keeping you alive.”
Rashmin Hira, a PhD student at the University of Calgary and a researcher on long COVID, adds, “Unfortunately, many people are simply told it’s just anxiety.”
That is why events like Dysautonomia Month are so vital, says Lauren Stiles, president and CEO of Dysautonomia International.
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