As POTS is becoming more prevalent I decided to post a bit about this disorder FYI.
Standing up is something most of us take for granted; we've
been doing it since childhood. Our bodies automatically adjust to the pull of
gravity by increasing vascular tone, heart rate and cardiac output. Blood
vessels contract, heart rates increase and our systolic
blood pressure remains the same or decreases slightly while diastolic
pressure increases slightly Our
bodies operate in perfect harmony and we stand up with little
effort.
However, the simple act of standing up can be a challenge for
some people. There are disorders that affect the body's ability to appropriately
adjust to the pull of gravity. When the body cannot effectively adjust to
upright posture, a person is said to have orthostatic intolerance. Postural
orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disorder characterized by
orthostatic intolerance.
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is defined by
excessive heart rate increments upon upright posture. A person with POTS will
experience heart rates that increase 30 beats or more per minute upon standing
and/or increase to 120 beats or more per minute upon standing
These exaggerated heart rate increases usually occur within 10 minutes of
rising.
While the hallmark of POTS is an excessive heart rate
increment upon standing, patients often exhibit numerous symptoms of autonomic
nervous system dysregulation, and research by the Mayo Clinic suggests POTS is a
limited autonomic neuropathy Many POTS symptoms seem to be caused by
an imbalance of the autonomic
nervous system's control over blood flow. It is the autonomic nervous system
(ANS) that regulates the needed adjustments in vascular tone, heart rate and
blood pressure upon standing. Some of the messages coming from the autonomic
nervous system tell the blood vessels to relax or tighten. In people with POTS,
the system seems to be out of balance and blood is not going to the right place
at the right time to do what the body needs.
There are treatments for POTS symptoms which can be tailored
to each individual patient, especially if an underlying cause is discovered.
Researchers are attempting to identify and treat the mechanisms and causes of
POTS. Studies show that most patients will eventually be able to stand up with
fewer symptoms Most people with POTS can look forward to
experiencing improvement with proper treatment. Reference: Brunner & Suddarth/Medical Text
If you have symptoms that may be POTS, please talk with your Dr.