Dysfunctions within the PSNS can be varied and may only affect one or more organs. If the nerves in the system are damaged, this can interfere with messages being sent between the brain and organs such as the heart, blood vessels, and sweat glands. If there is a surplus of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, this can result in some side effects.
As this neurotransmitter sends signals to organs of the body involved in the PSNS, too much of this can result in cramps, muscular weakness, paralysis, diarrhea, blurry vision, and the overproduction of tears. If the PSNS is underactive due to nerve damage, this could result in symptoms such as constantly high blood pressure and heart rate.
This is because the parasympathetic is unable to function properly to calm down the body after times of stress, so you may find someone being in a constant state of stress when there is no visible trigger to this. Autonomic dysfunction is a condition whereby the autonomic nervous system and its divisions do not work properly. This dysfunction can develop when nerves of the autonomic nervous system are damaged and can range from mild to life-threatening. The most common cause of autonomic dysfunction is diabetes, but there could be hereditary reasons, as well as aging, Parkinson’s disease, or chronic fatigue syndrome being some of the possible causes.

Below are some other symptoms of damage or dysfunction within the PSNS:

• Issues with digesting food – not being able to digest properly or at a slower pace than normal.
• Bladder dysfunction – this could result in incontinence or urine.
• Abnormal sweating – the sweat glands may be producing too much or too little sweat.
• Lack of pupillary response – the pupils may be unable to constrict after a stressful situation, so may always be appearing larger than normal.
• Lack of salivation – this can result in food not being digested properly.
• Bad habit meniu
• Bowel issues – this could be either constipation or too many bowel movements.
• Being unable to control internal body temperature.
• Visual problems, e.g. blurriness.

Autonomic dysfunction can be treated depending on the symptoms being experienced. For instance, if the cause of dysfunction is due to diabetes, controlling blood sugars will be the primary treatment. In many cases, treatment of the underlying disease (if applicable) can allow damaged nerves within the ANS to repair and regenerate. Autonomic dysfunction can be diagnosed by a doctor taking their time in order to understand what exactly the issue is. For example, using blood pressure monitors to test high or low blood pressure, or using an electrocardiogram to measure heart rate.
Although medical conditions cannot always be treated, there are some quick solutions that may be useful in order to activate the PSNS if taking a while to recover from a stressful situation. For instance, taking deep abdominal breaths can help in resetting the PSNS and bringing the heart rate down. Similarly, activities such as mindfulness, meditation and yoga have all been shown to help in relaxing and could even help bring the body to return to homeostasis. For more serious parasympathetic dysfunction, seeking a doctor’s advice is always recommended.