POTS: A Mysterious But Common Syndrome

What Is POTS?

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or POTS is a little known syndrome that affects one in five hundred people, mostly women. It can cause racing heart, nausea, dizziness or fainting when standing up.

What Causes POTS?

POTS affects the ability to pump blood from the legs to the rest of the body. Symptoms occur as the body struggles to keep blood pressure stable.

Researchers aren’t sure what causes POTS. It can be triggered by viral infections, pregnancy and trauma.

How is POTS Diagnosed?

A POTS diagnosis takes an average of six years from the start of symptoms.

Many people with POTS feel chronically tired or rundown and are often misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety.

POTS is diagnosed with the standing test or tilt table, which measures your heart rate when you change position.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, many people are relieved that symptoms are not “all in their head.”

POTS Treatment

There is no cure for POTS but several treatments and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms. These include:

• Exercise to improve conditioning and blood flow.
• Increase fluid intake and add extra salt to your diet.
• Wear compression stockings to help with blood circulation.
• Beta blockers are often prescribed to help manage heart rate.
• Midodrine may be prescribed to increase blood pressure.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, patients with POTS can manage symptoms and improve quality of life.