Heart Racing, Dizziness, and Feeling “Wired”
When it might be your nervous system, not “just anxiety”
If your heart races out of nowhere, you feel dizzy when you stand, or you get these random “crash” episodes, you are not alone.
A big reason this can happen is dysautonomia, which means your body’s “auto pilot” system is not regulating well.
Your autonomic nervous system controls things you do not think about, like:
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Breathing
- Digestion
When it is out of balance, symptoms can show up almost anywhere in your body.
What dysautonomia can feel like for you
Dysautonomia is not one single symptom. It can look like a messy mix, such as:
- Fast heart rate
- Feeling faint
- Low blood pressure
- Shortness of breath
- Poor digestion
- Food reactions
- Hives or flushing
- Exercise intolerance
- Brain fog and fatigue
Many people do not connect these dots at first. You might say, “I’m here because my heart races,” but the real story can include skin, gut, and hormone symptoms too.
The “triad” you’ll hear about: POTS, MCAS, and hypermobility
When dysautonomia is present, some people also fit patterns often called a “triad,” like:
- POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
- MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome)
- Hypermobility or EDS-like symptoms (connective tissue looseness)
The tough part is that conventional care often splits you into “lanes.”
One doctor focuses on heart rate.
Another focuses on gut symptoms.
Another focuses on hormones.
But no one is pulling it together into one clear plan.
Why you can feel stuck even when you’re “doing everything right”
This is one of the most important points.
Sometimes you eat clean, take supplements, rest, hydrate, and still flare.
Some hidden blocks that can keep you stuck include:
- Current mold exposure (even if you had it in the past, you could still be exposed now)
- Heavy metals that make detox harder
- Unresolved trauma or chronic stress that keeps your nervous system on high alert
- Infections like Lyme or viruses that keep the immune system activated
This matters because dysautonomia is deeply tied to your nervous system. If your body still feels unsafe, it will not regulate well.
Why “more meds” often isn’t the answer
A common pattern is that your medication list grows and grows.
One med for heart rate.
One med for gut motility.
One med for sleep.
One med for symptoms that came from the first med.
And you still do not feel like yourself.
That happens when you only chase symptoms and never address the bigger picture.
What a functional approach looks like for complex cases
For complex patterns like POTS and MCAS symptoms, the care plan often needs layers, not a single “magic fix.”
A practical approach includes:
- Foundational support
Look for basic problems that can make everything worse, like nutrient gaps or stress load. - Check for co-existing issues
Things like mold, Lyme, or other triggers that keep your body inflamed and reactive. - Short-term symptom support (6 to 12 weeks)
The goal is to help you function better while you work on the deeper drivers.
Also, for sensitive systems (especially mast cell patterns), the safest approach is usually:
- low dose
- one change at a time
- slow progress
Why hypermobility and inflammation can be connected
If you are very flexible, your joints may move past the normal range.
Inflammation can make the soft tissues around joints (like tendons and ligaments) weaker and looser. Then you can feel even more unstable.
When inflammation comes down, tissues can “tighten up” and support the joint better.
This is why the label is not always the end of the road. Even if you have hypermobility symptoms, there may be ways to improve how your body functions.
The safety piece: when heart racing needs urgent care
If you have a rapid heart rate or scary symptoms you cannot explain, you should still get a full medical workup.
That can include primary care and cardiology evaluation, especially to make sure the heart muscle and blood vessels are healthy.
Functional medicine can be a powerful “missing layer,” but it does not replace emergency care when you need it.
FAQ:
1. What is dysautonomia, in plain English?
It is when your autonomic nervous system is not regulating well. That system controls things like heart rate, breathing, digestion, and blood pressure.
2. Why do specialists miss the full picture?
Because many specialists treat only what is inside their lane, and they may not ask about your other symptoms or connect them together.
3. If you have POTS, MCAS, or hypermobility symptoms, what could be blocking your progress?
Hidden blocks can include mold exposure, heavy metals, unresolved trauma, and infections like Lyme or viruses.
4. How is inflammation related to hypermobility or EDS-like symptoms?
Inflammation can weaken and loosen the tissues that stabilize joints. Reducing inflammation can help tissues become stronger and more stable.
5. How do you decrease inflammation?
It depends on the root driver. Some starting places discussed include addressing mast cell patterns, diet changes like low histamine or low salicylate approaches, and checking basics like vitamin D, B12, and iron.
6. Do you need a POTS-literate cardiologist?
Many people do, especially to check for heart and blood vessel involvement and to guide safe management.
7. Can you “diagnose” MCAS, hypermobility, or EDS, or do you need a specialist first?
It depends. Sometimes care starts from strong clinical suspicion based on symptoms, and sometimes you need genetic testing or specialty testing. The word “diagnosis” can be tricky and depends on what testing is needed and available.
8. Can menopause make you feel like you cannot function, with dizziness too?
Yes.
9. Do you take insurance?
No.
10. Do you see 17-year-olds or children?
No. You need to be 18 or older.
11. Do you offer telehealth?
Yes. Telehealth is offered (with location requirements).
12. How often do you see patients?
It depends on your needs. Often it’s around a 3-month pattern once you’re on a plan, with labs around 10 weeks and a visit around 12 weeks, plus support in between.
13. How much does the first visit cost?
A price and limited-time discount were discussed during the session (example given: an intake program price with $200 off through a link shared).
