What is POTS?
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is not a specific disease but a syndrome that is a collection of symptoms. A clinical diagnosis of POTS is a heart rate increase of at least 30 beats per minute (bpm) from lying down to standing within 10 minutes. This is typically diagnosed with the Tilt Table Test. The test is done by tilting the table while the patient is lying down. Usually, when the table tilts and your body moves, the autonomic nervous system tells the blood vessels in your legs to get smaller and your heart to pump faster to send blood back to your brain. An abnormal response is when patients experience a rapid heart rate increase over 100 bpm, termed tachycardia, and have significant, abnormal changes in blood pressure.
In some cases, this rapid change in blood pressure causes patients to pass out (syncope). This is a syndrome of orthostatic intolerance combined with excessive upright tachycardia and usually without associated orthostatic hypotension. All variants of responses to this test have in common an excessively reduced venous return to the heart, or central hypovolemia, while upright.
What causes POTS?
POTS Syndrome might be caused by many things, like bacterial infections, injuries, viral infections, surgeries, chemicals, vaccines, a lot of stress, bad things that happened in the past that made the nervous system work too hard, and doing too many things at once. One or a combination of these factors may create a perfect storm to activate the sympathetic nervous system and start the stress response to defend and protect. This sympathetic nervous system, or “fight-or-flight” mode, can eventually lead to a cascade of symptoms.
How does it work?
This problem is due to autonomic nervous system dysfunction (dysautonomia). The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is an umbrella category for the parasympathetic, the “rest and digest,” and sympathetic, the “fight or flight,” systems. Normal Autonomic function allows the body to switch back and forth between these systems with ease. When the sympathetic system stays in overdrive for too long, it triggers many symptoms, resulting in POTS and dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Problems happen in the autonomic nervous system when stress is long-term, not short-term. Chronic stress is when an immense amount of physical or emotional stress over an extended period gets the body stuck in the sympathetic nervous system overdrive. Disorders of the ANS occur as a primary condition. The problems can affect any part of your body or all of them, but they usually affect your blood pressure and heart rate. This means that dysautonomia can manifest as several conditions, including but not limited to POTS.
The Autonomic Nervous System and POTS:
As mentioned earlier, POTS results from a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Remember, the ANS is like an orchestra conductor, controlling various involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and more. It has two branches:
- Sympathetic nervous system (SNS): Responsible for the “fight-or-flight” response, increasing heart rate and blood pressure during stressful situations.
- Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS): Promotes relaxation and recovery, lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
In POTS, the sympathetic nervous system works too hard, while the parasympathetic system has trouble keeping up. This imbalance disrupts how your body regulates blood pressure and circulation, leading to the characteristic symptoms of POTS upon standing.
Why Choose Innovative Health and Wellness Group for POTS?
At Innovative Health and Wellness Group in Dallas, Texas, we understand the complex interplay between the nervous system and POTS. Our team takes a holistic approach to managing POTS symptoms, focusing on the following:
- Improving ANS function: Techniques like deep breathing exercises, meditation, and biofeedback can help retrain your nervous system to find a better balance between the “fight-or-flight” and “rest-and-digest” responses.
- Addressing underlying causes: We can explore potential triggers like chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances that may be contributing to POTS.
- Personalized treatment plans: We can create a tailored plan for managing your POTS effectively based on your unique needs and response to various therapies.
Are you struggling with symptoms that might be related to POTS? Don’t wait! Contact Innovative Health and Wellness Group today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced practitioners. We’ll work with you to develop a personalized approach to managing your POTS and help you regain control of your health.
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