POTS is an acronym. It stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Anyone can get POTS; it is most often diagnosed in women 15-50. Sometimes POTS will surface after an illness or viral infection. This syndrome can debilitating and often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. While there is no cure for POTS, proper treatment can significantly increase the person’s quality of life.
POTS is one of the many forms of Dysautonomia, the dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This system controls the functions of the body that perform automatically, like the heart rate, blood pressure, temperature control, vision, and digestion.
The most noticeable symptoms of the autonomic dysfunction in POTS, include an uncomfortable rise in heart rate, dizziness, and often fainting. These symptoms are caused by an inadequate blood supply to the brain resulting from the decreased stroke volume of the heart. A person with POTS may also have nausea, chest pain, and extreme fatigue, often the result of blood pooling in the lower body.
Although the heart is structurally healthy, the condition is often diagnosed and treated by a cardiologist. Symptoms can often be managed with medication and/or lifestyle modifications. Here are five of the Best tips for treating POTS.
#1 Water, Water, and More Water
Treating the symptoms of POTS requires an increase in blood volume. That’s why doctors recommend that their POTSies drink a minimum of two liters of water per day. The recommendation is usually 2-4 liters. The addition fluids boost the blood volume. Increasing the blood volume helps keep the blood pressure stable and improves the stroke volume of the heart. Doctors recommend drinking water before rising in the morning and having fluids readily available throughout the day.
#2 Compression Stockings
Doctors recommend Compression stockings, and sometimes abdominal binders, to keep the blood from pooling in the lower body. While some POTS patients rely on knee-high compression, thigh high stockings or pantyhose are shown to be more effective. 20-30 mmHg Thigh high stockings are the most often prescribed by cardiologists, The circulation is enhanced by the compression and symptoms, including the high heart rate, are often reduced. Compression should be worn all day every day.
#3 High Sodium Diet
Salt is essential to manage POTS symptoms. While the increase in fluids will improve blood volume, the additional salt is needed to retain those fluids. Some cardiologists prescribe salt tablets, while others will advise their patients to increase their sodium intake through their diet. Eating salty snacks throughout the day may be necessary. Some POTS patients carry salt packets. Usually, 3000 to 10,000 mg of sodium are recommended, but many doctors are vague on the exact requirements.
#4 Sports Drinks
Fluid intake is essential to the management of POTS. Many doctors recommend splitting the required fluid intake between water and sports drinks like Gatorade or electrolyte supplements. It is important to keep electrolyte levels balanced, especially with the increased water intake. Often POTS symptoms are temporarily relieved by electrolyte beverages
#5 Medication
Beta blockers are often prescribed for POTS patients to slow the heart rate and control tachycardia. While non-pharmaceutical intervention may be sufficient to manage symptoms, fludrocortisone and/or Midodrine may be prescribed to retain sodium, fluids and constrict blood vessels.
Since Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome can present many seemingly unrelated symptoms, It may take years of doctor visits before a proper diagnosis is made. POTS symptoms are often dismissed as anxiety or depression. Though some of the symptoms are similar, the cause is entirely different.
Some people who have POTS find many daily tasks difficult and exhausting, while others can live an unrestricted life by managing symptoms as they arise. It is important for POTS patients to exercise regularly to improve muscle tone and circulation.
A person with POTS may seem perfectly healthy to the casual observer but may struggle to manage tasks that healthy people complete with ease.
While more research is needed for a cure, POTS being diagnosed more often as doctors become aware of the condition.
