A mysterious yet common disorder believed to affect up to three million people in the U.S., postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) causes an abnormally fast heartbeat when a person changes from a reclining or sitting position to a standing position. Doctors aren’t sure what causes this disorder, but treatment can mitigate symptoms and improve quality of life.
What Are the Symptoms of POTS?
POTS symptoms may include:
Not everyone with POTS experiences all symptoms. Symptoms can occur just after sitting or standing up or they can take a few minutes to develop. POTS can cause a sudden onset of health effects, but symptoms can also occur gradually.
What Causes This Condition?
While doctors don’t know what causes POTS, some research suggests that the disorder could be an autoimmune illness. There are also a few subtypes of POTS that have various underlying causes. Some people may have overactive sympathetic nervous systems (hyperadrenergic POTS), while damage to nerve fibers (neuropathic POTS) can also cause health issues. Low blood volume can also lead to symptoms (hypovolemic POTS).
How Do Doctors Diagnose POTS?
After assessing symptoms and getting a patient’s medical background, doctors can use a tilt table test to look for physical changes involving heart rate and blood pressure. Other tests may also be performed, including blood and breathing tests, which can help rule out other conditions.
How Is POTS Treated?
There is no cure for POTS, but certain therapies can mitigate symptoms. Doctors encourage patients to exercise regularly and eat a nutritious diet. In addition to healthy foods, people with POTS may be given specific diet instructions like increasing salt intake and high fiber foods.
Medications can’t treat POTS directly, but they can help manage some of the symptoms. In this case, your doctor may recommend drugs like beta blockers and fludrocortisone, which boosts the volume of blood and allows the body to retain more salt.
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