Autonomic dysfunction develops when the nerves of the ANS are damaged. This condition is called autonomic neuropathy or dysautonomia. Autonomic dysfunction can range from mild to life-threatening. It can affect part of the ANS or the entire ANS. Sometimes the conditions that cause problems are temporary and reversible. Symptoms of autonomic dysfunction Autonomic dysfunction can affect a small part of the ANS or the entire ANS. Some symptoms that may indicate the presence of an autonomic nerve disorder include: dizziness and fainting upon standing up, or orthostatic hypotension an inability to alter heart rate with exercise, or exercise intolerance sweating abnormalities, which could alternate between sweating too much and not sweating enough digestive difficulties, such as a loss of appetite, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or difficulty swallowing urinary problems, such as difficulty starting urination, incontinence, and incomplete emptying of the bladder vision problems, such as blurry vision or an inability of the pupils to react to light quickly