Dysautonomia is increasingly recognized as a hidden driver of digestive symptoms – from bloating and abdominal pain to severe motility disorders – yet it often goes undiagnosed in gut health practice.

In this webinar, UCLA dietitian and gut health expert Nancee Jaffe unpacks the overlap between autonomic dysfunction and GI conditions, showing why every clinician in the digestive health space should understand this connection.
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Dysautonomia affects more than 70 million people worldwide, with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) the most common form. Cases have risen with long COVID, and many patients experience it as an “invisible illness” despite severe daily symptoms

Key facts:

  • 70M+ affected globally, with at least 15 subtypes identified.
  • POTS, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos (hEDS) are common overlaps.
  • Up to 79% of long COVID patients may experience dysautonomia

GI involvement is highly prevalent, with symptoms ranging from bloating and abdominal pain to severe dysmotility.

The research highlights significant crossover with chronic GI conditions.

GI manifestations:

  • 46% meet criteria for IBS.
  • Up to 80% with hEDS report GI symptoms.
  • 31–87% with MCAS experience abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, or reflux

Best practices emphasize a multidisciplinary approach – gastroenterology, neurology, cardiology, nutrition, and physical therapy – alongside practical strategies such as increased sodium and fluid intake, compression garments, small frequent meals, and individualized diet modifications.

While evidence for low FODMAP in dysautonomia is limited, clinical discretion may be appropriate. In this webinar, Nancee stressed that compassionate care – believing patients and validating their experiences – is as important as medical management.

Clinician resource

The Rome GastroPsych group
https://theromefoundation.org/rome-gastropsych/

The Rome GastroPsych group offers evidence-based clinical training, expert workshops, practice-ready tools, and a global peer community for providers working at the intersection of psychology, behavior, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Patient resources

Los Angeles Dysautonomia Network (support group and events)
https://www.la-dn.org/
https://www.la-dn.org/events
LADN.home@gmail.com

The Dysautonomia Project
https://thedysautonomiaproject.org/resources/
Facebook Support Groups

The Ehlers-Danlos Society
https://www.ehlers-danlos.com 

The Mast Cell Disease Society‍
https://tmsforacure.org/‍

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