What is P.O.T.S?
P.O.T.S stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.
Standing up is something most of us take for granted; we've been doing it since
childhood. 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 which is
characterized by a person having orthostatic intolerance. 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.
Ashley's heart rate (from laying to standing) goes from 80 to as high as 178 beats
per minute. That's with NO STRESS - Simply standing up does that.
The symptoms of POTS are life altering and debilitating at times. POTS
patients use about three times more energy to stand than a healthy person.
How is it detected?
POTS is an easy disorder to overlook because physicians routinely take heart and
blood pressure readings while the patient is sitting down. The POTS patient may have
relatively normal vital signs while sitting down. Also, POTS symptoms can vary from day
to day. Patients sometimes report good phases in which their symptoms are milder, followed
by bad phases in which symptoms become more severe.
What's a tilt-table test?
The tilt table test is often the standard method used for detecting POTS. A patient is strapped
to a mechanical table, which will tilt them upright at an angle of at least 60 degrees. Measurements
of heart rate and blood pressure are taken while lying flat and then again while tilted upright.
The patient is left tilted upright for a specified period of time or until they faint, at which point
the test is concluded. During the test, My BP went down to 60/30 and my pulse went up to 165.
Scary, isn't it? The doctors have no doubt about their diagnoses... POTS.
What should I avoid doing?
If you have POTS, you should avoid the following...
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- Albations
- Alcohol
- Anethesia
- Bending Up and Down
- Blowing up balloons
- Certain foods (such as dairy)
- Climbing Stairs
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- Dehydration (very important)
- Doctors who don't know what POTS is
- Eating Large Meals
- Energy Drinks
- Epinephrine
- Exercise
- Fatigue
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- Giving Blood
- Holding Arms up in the Air
- Lifting Objects
- Over-Stimulating Environments
- Singing
- Stress
- Travel by Airplane
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Common Myths about POTS
Myth #1: POTS symptoms only occur while standing.
Fact: Many patients report symptoms occurring while sitting or lying down. Standing does exacerbate symptoms.
Myth #2: Everyone with POTS faints.
Fact: Many people with POTS have never fainted.
Myth #3: POTS symptoms are present at all times.
Fact: The symptoms of POTS can vary greatly from day to day and hour to hour.
Myth #4: Most doctors will be competent in treating POTS patients.
Fact: Some doctors have never even heard of POTS. It is essential to one's well being to seek out a specialist.
Myth #5: People get POTS because they are lazy and deconditioned.
Fact: People can get POTS symptoms due to prolonged bed rest, however the symptoms will diminish as the person becomes more active. The origins of chronic orthostatic intolerance are certainly distinct from laziness or deconditioning.
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