Published peer-reviewed research shows that Cognitive FX treatment leads to meaningful symptom reduction in post-concussion symptoms for 77% of study participants. Cognitive FX is the only PCS clinic with third-party validated treatment outcomes.
READ FULL STUDY
Living with dysautonomia can be overwhelming. Symptoms often appear suddenly and unpredictably. One day you may feel mostly normal; the next, simply standing up triggers dizziness, lightheadedness, or a racing heart rate. Some patients faint. Others struggle with gastrointestinal issues, brain fog, or difficulty regulating temperature.
Because symptoms of autonomic dysfunction vary so widely and affect so many organs, searching for the right dysautonomia clinic can feel frustrating. Many patients tell us they saw multiple doctors before anyone took their symptoms seriously. They were told it was “just stress,” despite experiencing disabling episodes of orthostatic intolerance, palpitations, and fatigue.
This is why choosing the right clinic matters. Dysautonomia requires a healthcare provider (or often, a multidisciplinary team of providers) who understands autonomic disorders, performs appropriate autonomic testing, and offers a treatment plan that addresses the underlying neurology—not just the symptoms.
In this guide, we’ll walk through:
Dysautonomia clinics specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders that affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS). These clinics often manage a wide spectrum of conditions, combining lifestyle guidance, autonomic testing, medication management, and targeted therapies. Not every clinic handles all types of dysautonomia, but common conditions include:
This is the most commonly diagnosed form of dysautonomia. POTS triggers an increase in heart rate when patients stand up, causing symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, and exercise intolerance.
OH causes fainting or near-fainting due to a drop in blood pressure when patients stand up.
MSA is a progressive neurological disorder causing severe damage to nerve cells, particularly affecting autonomic functions.
VVS occurs when the autonomic nervous system fails to maintain adequate vascular tone, resulting in low blood pressure and low heart rate, causing temporary loss of consciousness. This is also known as neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS).
DAN is a serious complication of diabetes where high blood sugar damages the autonomic nervous system.
PAF is a rare and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the autonomic nervous system.
These include a variety of conditions, such as autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) or autonomic issues associated with lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis.
These conditions appear after infections, including Long COVID.
This is an inherited condition that affects the autonomic nervous system, especially breathing, salivating, forming tears, and regulating body temperature and blood pressure.
Dysautonomia is often called an “invisible illness.” Patients may appear healthy even while struggling with significant ANS dysfunction. Symptoms vary depending on which systems are affected, but common ones include:
Orthostatic Intolerance: Dizziness and lightheadedness when standing up
Cardiovascular Symptoms: Heart palpitations, chest discomfort, high heart rate (tachycardia), low heart rate (bradycardia), high or low blood pressure, and blood pooling in the legs
Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, reflux, and heartburn
Secretomotor Symptoms: Difficulty sweating, tearing, and other fluid production (dry eyes, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, dry skin)
Pulmonary Symptoms: Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
Neurological Symptoms: Cognitive difficulties and brain fog
Pupillomotor Symptoms: Impaired pupil response (uncomfortable in bright light) and impaired vision
Urinary Symptoms: Difficulty with urine retention and/or excretion
Because dysautonomia affects virtually every body system, a clinic must look at the body holistically—not just one symptom at a time.
Because dysautonomia includes many different disorders—from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) to autoimmune autonomic neuropathy, neurocardiogenic syncope, multiple system atrophy, and more—the characteristics of a high-quality clinic will vary depending on the patient’s needs. However, certain foundational elements apply across all forms of dysautonomia.
Below are the features that consistently distinguish a reliable, patient-centered dysautonomia center from one offering only minimal or outdated care.
A good clinic understands that dysautonomia is not a single disease but a group of disorders involving the autonomic nervous system. These conditions can affect:
Because the ANS connects to nearly every organ system, a good clinic should approach diagnosis and treatment with a holistic, multi-system perspective.
Clinics that oversimplify symptoms or attribute them solely to stress, anxiety, or deconditioning are less likely to provide meaningful help.
Accurate diagnosis matters. A credible clinic should offer or coordinate validated autonomic testing tailored to the patient’s presentation. This may include:
Different types of dysautonomia require different diagnostics. For example:
Autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy requires antibody testing.
Diabetic autonomic neuropathy requires glucose control assessments.
Multiple system atrophy requires neurological imaging and neurodegenerative evaluation.
POTS requires orthostatic heart rate and blood volume assessment.
A strong clinic should not rely on a single test or dismiss symptoms when basic labs appear normal.
Because the underlying causes vary widely, treatment cannot be one-size-fits-all.
Examples:
Orthostatic forms (POTS, OH, NCS) may benefit from fluids, salt intake, compression, pacing, and autonomic regulation or retraining strategies.
Autoimmune autonomic neuropathy or ganglionopathy may require immunotherapy (IVIG, corticosteroids, plasma exchange).
Diabetic autonomic neuropathy requires optimizing glycemic control and addressing GI or bladder complications.
Multiple system atrophy requires coordinated neurological, urological, and palliative care.
Familial dysautonomia involves genetic, pulmonary, and feeding support.
A good clinic understands the distinctions between these conditions—rather than applying generic advice across all patients.
Because dysautonomia impacts multiple organs, high-quality care usually includes coordinated input from several specialties:
For complex or advanced conditions like multiple system atrophy or familial dysautonomia, involvement of palliative care, pulmonology, or feeding specialists may also be necessary.
A strong clinic ensures that all providers follow a cohesive treatment plan—not contradictory or piecemeal advice.
Regardless of diagnosis, patients benefit from learning how to self-manage symptoms in daily life. A good dysautonomia clinic should provide:
Because symptoms fluctuate and new complications may arise, reliable follow-up is essential. Patients should feel supported—not left on their own between appointments.
This is especially important because many dysautonomias are “invisible illnesses.” Normal EKGs, labs, or imaging do not rule out autonomic failure or autonomic neuropathy.
A good clinic should:
Validation and clear communication significantly improve the patient experience and help patients stay engaged in their treatment plan.
Begin with reputable websites and directories specifically designed for individuals with dysautonomia. Some examples include:
Dysautonomia International: The Physician List features vetted providers with experience in treating autonomic conditions.
Patient-led forums: Sites like Reddit’s r/dysautonomia or r/POTS often include recommendations for clinics.
Health provider directories: Sites like Zocdoc or Vitals. Entries are not vetted, so look for centers with consistent, not one-off, positive reviews.
Online research is helpful, but real-life referrals from a doctor or even recommendations from a friend can help you find the best place for you.
Ask your doctor or another trusted healthcare provider. They may know of a neurologist or a cardiologist working in a dysautonomia clinic.
Search local support groups. Members are often willing to share who helped and who didn’t.
Rely on your network of friends, coworkers, or extended family members. They may know someone who has gone through this before.
Before booking, check for:
Use the appointment to ask targeted questions:
If a clinic doesn’t feel right—even after starting treatment—give yourself permission to find a better fit. Dysautonomia care should be personalized, responsive, and grounded in neurology.
At Cognitive FX, we specialize in treating orthostatic dysautonomia, primarily POTS, but we can also help patients diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension (OH).
Our 5-day program targets the root causes of POTS by retraining autonomic function. This is the key difference between our approach and the treatment approach of most POTS clinics, where patients are advised to increase salt intake and hydration, wear compression garments, and engage in light steady state exercise to manage symptoms. The goal of our program is long-term regulation and sustainable quality-of-life improvements, not just short-term symptom relief.
This program grew out of the success we’ve had treating concussion patients who commonly experience POTS symptoms. As we consistently saw their autonomic function improve through neurological rehabilitation, we refined and formalized those methods into a dedicated POTS program.
Our intensive program lasts five days and includes:
Comprehensive medical and neurophysiological assessment: Functional testing of orthostatic response, vestibular function, cranial‑nerve inputs, and breathing mechanics to create a customized treatment plan.
Neuro Cardio Training: Brief high‑intensity bursts (≈8/10 RPE) → full recovery with cooling, positioning, and diaphragmatic breathing to teach the ANS to switch gears.
Vestibular Recalibration: Exercises that improve vertical‑change sensing and reduce orthostatic overreactions.
Breathing Mechanics & Chemistry: Nasal/diaphragmatic technique; longer exhales; CO₂ support as indicated.
Cranial‑Nerve Stacking: Taste/scent inputs (e.g., salt intake pre‑interval, calming scents during recovery) to steer autonomic tone.
CO₂‑Based Recovery: End‑of‑day CO₂ suit for relaxation and tissue perfusion.
Planned Rest Blocks to protect tolerance.
Each therapy targets a different aspect of ANS dysfunction, teaching the brain how to self-regulate more effectively. Throughout treatment, patients also receive education on what POTS is, what drives symptoms, and how to support ongoing improvement at home.
Note: We do not currently offer diagnostic testing for POTS. We’re only accepting patients who have already received a POTS diagnosis.
If you’ve been diagnosed with POTS and you live in the Utah Valley area—or can travel to Provo—our clinic offers one of the few neurologically focused POTS treatment programs in the country. Fill out this form to see if you’re a good fit for our program, or call our patient care coordinator at 385-334-6093.
Andy is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and Z-Health Performance Master Trainer. He began his career in Orthopedics, then worked as Head Athletic Trainer and Director of Human Performance at a specialty physical therapy clinic. Here, his passion for innovative human body approaches ignited. In 2010, he founded Fitness Evolved in Berkeley, CA, focusing on a neurologically informed health and exercise paradigm. Andy mastered the Z-Health Performance Solutions system, creating brain-centric training and rehab at Fitness Evolved, serving diverse clients, including pro athletes and brain injury survivors. He's an accomplished Z-Health instructor, having trained professionals worldwide. Andy is thrilled to join Cognitive FX, contributing to our revolutionary concussion and TBI recovery techniques.
Finding effective care for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) can be more challenging than you would expect. Most healthcare providers approach POTS as a cardiovascular issue — focusing...
If you’re living with POTS, you’ve probably wondered: Is this ever going to get better?
If you’ve been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), you’re not alone in wondering when or if things will get better. For some patients, it’s a temporary condition that...
If you’re experiencing symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or a racing heart when you stand, your healthcare provider may suspect a form of dysautonomia—including postural orthostatic...
If you’ve been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), daily life can feel unpredictable and exhausting. Many POTS patients experience lightheadedness, heart palpitations,...
If you’re experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or fatigue when standing, your healthcare provider may recommend autonomic testing to evaluate for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia...
Published peer-reviewed research shows that Cognitive FX treatment leads to meaningful symptom reduction in post-concussion symptoms for 77% of study participants. Cognitive FX is the only PCS clinic with third-party validated treatment outcomes.
READ FULL STUDY