Skip to main content
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
Cardiac Sciences

Managing Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Effectively

admin Sep 20, 2024

Introduction

PTOS is a form of dysautonomia, meaning a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. ANS regulates functions that are not in our control, such as heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and body temperature. The main characteristic of POTS is an increase in the heart rate while standing. Normally, the body’s autonomic nervous system balances the heart rate and blood pressure to keep the blood flowing at a normal and healthy pace, no matter which position you are in. POTS patients cannot maintain the balance between the heart rate response and blood vessel constriction. As a result, the body cannot keep the blood pressure steady and stable. Each POTS case is different. 

POTS: An overview 

POTS is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, a component of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary physiologic processes, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and digestion. POTS affects the autonomic nervous system and its functions.

 

What does POTS stand for?

  • Postural: Position of the body 
  • Orthostatic: Standing upright position
  • Tachycardia: Increased heart rate
  • Syndrome: Group of symptoms

 

POTS are majorly seen in women compared to men. People who have significant illnesses such as mononucleosis infections, pregnancy, physical trauma like head injury, and autoimmune conditions are more likely to develop POTS. In POTS, when you stand up, 10–15 per cent of the blood in your body settles in the abdomen, legs, and arms, and less blood reaches the brain, which causes light-headedness.

 

To compensate for the lower amount of blood returning to your heart while standing up, the body releases hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. These released hormones cause the heart to beat faster with more force, referred to as tachycardia (increased heart rate). This results in more blood returning to the heart and brain. People with POTS tend to pool larger amounts of blood when they stand up. The body responds by releasing hormones to cause more constriction of blood vessels, increasing the heart rate. 

POTS symptoms

POTS symptoms can develop suddenly or gradually. It has several possible symptoms that vary from person to person. They include:

  • Fainting
  • Heart palpitations
  • Anxiety
  • Dizziness or light-headedness
  • Excess sweating
  • Chest pain
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dyspnoea
  • Brain fog
  • Bloating of body
  • Discoloration of hands

Causes

  • Neuropathic POTS: It is a rare type of POTS. It occurs when there is damage to the nerve fibres that control blood vessel constriction in the abdomen and limbs. As a result of the damage, nerve supply will be lost, leading to poor blood vessel muscles in the abdomen region.
  • Hyperadrenergic POTS: It is a type of POTS that occurs when the sympathetic nervous system is hyperactive. It is associated with elevated levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine. 
  • Hypovolemic POTS: It is a type of POTS caused due to reduced blood volume/low blood volume. It can occur due to dehydration and blood loss due to injuries.

Diagnosis

The diagnostic tests performed to find out the cause and condition of POTS include:

 

  • Blood and urine tests
  • OSART (a test that measures the sweating)
  • Autonomic breathing test
  • Tuberculin skin test
  • Skin nerve biopsy
  • Echocardiogram

 

It is difficult for health professionals to diagnose POTS as many symptoms develop over time. The primary test conducted for POTS patients is the Tilt table test, which measures the heart rate and blood pressure at different postures and positions. 

POTS treatments

As there is no particular and permanent treatment for POTS, health professionals use many strategies to manage POTS symptoms. 

The US FDA has not approved any medications for POTS treatment, but health professionals prescribe certain medications for the treatment of POTS disease, such as:

 

  • Fludrocortisone
  • Pyridostigmine
  • Midodrine
  • B-blockers

Preventive measures

  • Exercise and physical activities
  • Practise simple yoga and simple walking
  • A healthy diet and nutritional food
  • Increase sodium in the diet
  • Drink plenty of water 
  • Consume small and frequent meals instead of a few large meals
  • Consume high fibre and carbohydrates

Conclusion 

In conclusion, though POTS is a complex condition, its symptoms can be easily managed with lifestyle modifications, such as hydration, increased salt intake, and doing enough exercise.

 

Popular Searches :

Hospitals: Cancer Hospital in DelhiBest Heart Hospital in DelhiHospital in AmritsarHospital in LudhianaHospitals in MohaliHospital in FaridabadHospitals in GurgaonBest Hospital in JaipurHospitals in Greater NoidaHospitals in NoidaBest Kidney Hospital in KolkataBest Hospital in KolkataHospitals in Rajajinagar BangaloreHospitals in Richmond Road BangaloreHospitals in Nagarbhavi BangaloreHospital in Kalyan WestHospitals in MulundBest Hospital in India | | Cardiology Hospital in IndiaBest Cancer Hospital in IndiaBest Cardiology Hospital in IndiaBest Oncology Hospital In IndiaBest Cancer Hospital in DelhiBest Liver Transplant Hospital in India

 

Doctors: Dr. Rana PatirDr. Rajesh BennyDr. Rahul Bhargava | Dr. Jayant AroraDr. Anoop MisraDr. Manu TiwariDr. Praveer AgarwalDr. Arup Ratan DuttaDr. Meenakshi AhujaDr. Anoop JhuraniDr. Shivaji BasuDr. Subhash JangidDr. Atul MathurDr. Gurinder BediDr. Monika WadhawanDr. Debasis DattaDr. Shrinivas NarayanDr. Praveen GuptaDr. Nitin JhaDr. Raghu NagarajDr. Ashok Seth | Dr. Sandeep VaishyaDr. Atul MishraDr. Z S MeharwalDr. Ajay BhallaDr. Atul Kumar MittalDr. Arvind Kumar KhuranaDr. Narayan HulseDr. Samir ParikhDr. Amit JavedDr. Narayan BanerjeeDr. Bimlesh Dhar PandeyDr. Arghya ChattopadhyayDr. G.R. Vijay KumarDr Ashok GuptaDr. Gourdas ChoudhuriDr. Sushrut SinghDr. N.C. KrishnamaniDr. Atampreet SinghDr. Vivek JawaliDr. Sanjeev GulatiDr. Amite Pankaj AggarwalDr. Ajay KaulDr. Sunita VarmaDr. Manoj Kumar GoelDr. R MuralidharanDr. Sushmita RoychowdhuryDr. T.S. MAHANTDr. UDIPTA RAYDr. Aparna JaswalDr. Ravul JindalDr. Savyasachi SaxenaDr. Ajay Kumar KriplaniDr. Nitesh RohatgiDr. Anupam Jindal 

Specialties: Heart Lung TransplantOrthopedic Cardiology InterventionalObstetrics & GynaecologyOnco RadiationNeurosurgery Interventional CardiologyGastroenterologist in JaipurNeuro PhysicianGynecologist in KolkataBest Neurologist in IndiaLiver TransferBest Cardiologist in Delhi 

Categories

Clear all

Related Blogs

View all
Cardiovascular Disease Management In Covid 19
Cardiac Sciences

Cardiovascular Disease Management In Covid 19

admin Jan 23, 2024
Understanding The Signs of Heart Attack
Cardiac Sciences

Understanding The Signs of Heart Attack

admin Jan 16, 2024
Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting
Cardiac Sciences

Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting

admin Mar 18, 2023
Know About Thoracic Aortic Dissection
Cardiac Sciences

Know About Thoracic Aortic Dissection

admin Apr 29, 2024
Myth Or Fact: Exercise Must Be Avoided After Having A Heart Attack
Cardiac Sciences

Myth Or Fact: Exercise Must Be Avoided After Having A Heart Attack

Myth Or Fact: Exercise Must Be Avoided After Having A Heart Attack Nov 19, 2021
Heal-Thy Heart
Cardiac Sciences

Heal-Thy Heart

Dr. Ankur Ahuja Oct 31, 2023
Signs of Heart Attack
Cardiac Sciences

Signs of Heart Attack

admin Jan 23, 2024
Lipids And Heart Health
Cardiac Sciences

Lipids And Heart Health

admin Oct 11, 2023
Cardiac Emergencies
Cardiac Sciences

Cardiac Emergencies

Dr. Rakesh Kumar Jaswal Sep 03, 2019
Emotional Health For A Healthy Heart
Cardiac Sciences

Emotional Health For A Healthy Heart

Dr. Arun Kochar Jan 17, 2017

Quick Enquiry Form

barqut

Keep track of your appointments, get updates & more!

app-store google-play
Request callback