If you’ve ever stood up too quickly and felt dizzy or lightheaded, you may have experienced a mild form of POTS. But what exactly is POTS? And why do some people experience it more severely than others? In this blog post, we’ll explore what POTS is, what causes it, and how it can be managed.
What is POTS?
POTS stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. It’s a condition in which the body has difficulty regulating blood flow, leading to symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and a rapid heartbeat. POTS is often associated with standing up, but it can also occur when sitting or even lying down.
What causes POTS?
There isn’t one specific cause of POTS, but it’s thought to be related to a malfunction in the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls many automatic functions in the body, including heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. It’s the system responsible for your body responding to daily life – like knowing to increase blood pressure when you stand up so that your brain can still get blood properly. In people with POTS, the autonomic nervous system may not regulate these functions properly, leading to symptoms like dizziness and rapid heartbeat.
POTS can be a primary condition, meaning it occurs on its own, or it can be secondary to another underlying condition. Some conditions that can cause or contribute to POTS include:
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Lyme Disease
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
- Autoimmune Diseases; like Lupus and Sjogren’s Syndrome
How can POTS be managed?
There’s currently no cure for POTS, but there are many things that can be done to manage the symptoms. Here are some tips for managing POTS:
1. Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water and other fluids can help regulate blood flow and prevent symptoms.
2. Increase salt intake: Salt helps the body retain water, which can help regulate blood flow. Be sure to talk to your doctor before making any significant changes to your diet.
3. Wear compression stockings: Compression stockings can help prevent blood from pooling in the legs and feet, which can worsen POTS symptoms.
4. Avoid triggers: Certain things can trigger POTS symptoms, like standing up too quickly, hot temperatures, and stress. Avoiding these triggers can help prevent symptoms from occurring.
5. Exercise: While exercise may seem counterintuitive for a condition that causes fatigue and dizziness, it can help improve blood flow and reduce symptoms over time. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.
6. Medications: There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat POTS, including beta blockers, fludrocortisone, and midodrine. Your doctor may recommend one or more of these medications based on your individual symptoms.
In conclusion, POTS is a condition that affects the body’s ability to regulate blood flow, leading to symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, and rapid heartbeat. While there’s no cure for POTS, there are many things that can be done to manage the symptoms. Staying hydrated, increasing salt intake, wearing compression stockings, avoiding triggers, exercising, and taking medications can all help improve symptoms and quality of life for people with POTS. If you are experiencing such symptoms, please do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor and start a discussion.
