Dysautonomia Warrior 5k

"Dysautonomia" translates to dysfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), and is the term used to describe a group of disorders that are widely unheard of. It is thought,however, that over 70 million people worldwide are affected by various forms of dysautonomia, making this condition not as rare as it may seem. Despite the high prevalence of dysautonomia, most patients take years to get diagnosed, and many are misdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness amongst the public and within the medical profession. 

The ANS controls the "automatic" functions of the body that we do not consciously think about, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, kidney function, and temperature control. People living with various forms of dysautonomia have trouble regulating these systems, which can result in lightheadedness, fainting, abnormal heart rates, pain, fatigue, and in severe cases, death. 

The goal of this race is to raise awareness within the Seacoast of this condition, and to raise funds for Dysautonomia International, an organization that helps fund research to find better treatment options, and ultimately one day a cure.