Though she may be most well known as being Beyonce’s younger sister, Solange Knowles is quite the musical powerhouse in her own right. Born in 1986, she made her singing debut only five years later and started writing music only 4 years after that. She wanted to try her hand at recording music at the age of 13 but her parents thought it would be better for her to wait. Still, at 15 she had her debut as a backup dancer for her sister’s group, Destiny’s Child.
Just a year later, Solange released her first solo album, "Solo Star". In the years that followed, she released more albums to many positive reviews.
While Destiny’s Child was still together, Solange also co-wrote several songs with the group’s members. Though it may be her first love, she hasn’t restricted her talents to music. Solange has had multiple acting roles in movies and television shows.
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Since she’s been working steadily from a young age, it came as a surprise that she had to cancel her New Year's Eve performance at AfroPunk Festival in Johannesburg in 2017.
She later revealed that she had been diagnosed with dysautonomia and that the disease was the reason she was unable to perform. Though it was surprising, she has been able to manage the condition with her doctor’s help.
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What Is Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia is actually a broad term used to describe a set of medical conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is responsible for involuntary body functions such as breathing, digestion, sexual function, heart rate, and blood pressure among many others.
If these functions are properly controlled, you can experience various issues in how well your body works. While some people are born with the illness, there are others who develop dysautonomia because of another condition.
Some of the conditions that can cause dysautonomia include Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, lupus, celiac disease, and sarcoidosis. The symptoms of the disease can also vary widely but a few of the issues you might experience are chronic fatigue, chest pain, problems with balance, nausea, significant swings in heart rate, and trouble breathing.
How The Disease Is Diagnosed
Since dysautonomia affects the ANS, the tests that diagnose the disease are typically focused on checking your involuntary functions. There may be sweating tests, breathing tests, and an electrocardiography.
Since the illness can be caused by other conditions, your doctor may also recommend blood tests to determine if you have any other health problems. One of the popular tests to confirm dysautonomia is known as a tilt table test.
In this test, you would lie on a table while medical devices record how your body regulates heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure when the table moves.
Bear in mind that the results of one test may just be the beginning as there are different specific conditions. This list may include neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
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The Treatment Options For Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia can’t be cured so doctors typically focus on managing the disease. This management entails reducing the symptoms as well as minimizing the likelihood of any complications. Since the symptoms and illnesses can vary widely, your treatment program will have to be personalized. In addition to a medical regimen, doctors usually suggest certain lifestyle changes to help you cope with the illness.
You may need to drink more water, add salt to your diet, sleep with your head raised, and take medications to modulate your blood pressure. If you have other chronic illnesses, you’ll need to take care to have them under control as well.
Even if you’ve never heard of dysautonomia, it’s been shown to affect over 70 million people globally. It’s also likely to affect all ethnicities and genders equally. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms that are listed here, it’s best to see your doctor as soon as possible. The disease can’t be cured but it’s possible to manage it well.
