Postural Orthostatic Tachyardia Syndrome (POTS)

Author: Thomas C. Weiss
Published: 2012/07/13 - Updated: 2025/03/01
Publication Type: Informative
Topic: Cardiovascular - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article explores POTS, a condition causing rapid heart rate and dizziness on standing, offering insights for those affected, including seniors and disabled.

Why it matters: This information provides an overview of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition characterized by excessive heart rate increases upon standing, often leading to lightheadedness or fainting. It highlights that POTS frequently affects women aged 15 to 50 and can be triggered by events such as major surgery, trauma, pregnancy, or viral illnesses. The discussion encompasses various symptoms associated with POTS, including dizziness, extreme fatigue, exercise intolerance, and gastrointestinal issues, offering valuable insights for individuals experiencing these symptoms, as well as for healthcare providers seeking to understand and manage this syndrome. By highlighting the connection between seemingly minor symptoms and potentially life-threatening conditions, this article serves as an important educational resource for maintaining cardiovascular health - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or, 'POTS,' is one of a group of disorders with orthostatic intolerance as a main symptom people experience. Orthostatic intolerance (OI) involves a condition in which a person experiences an excessively reduced volume of blood returning to their heart as they stand from a lying down position. The main symptom of OI is lightheadedness, or even fainting. With POTS, the lightheadedness or fainting a person experiences is also accompanied by a quick increase in their heart rate of more than 30 beats per minute, or a heart rate in excess of 120 beats per minute within 10 minutes of their standing up.

Main Item

The lightheadedness or fainting related to POTS can be relieved by lying down again. People from any age group can experience POTS, although 75-80% of the people who are affected by the syndrome are women between 15 and 50 years old. Some women have reported an increase in episodes of POTS right before menstruating. Pots many times starts after major surgery, trauma, pregnancy, or after a person experiences a viral illness. The syndrome can find people with an inability to exercise because it prompts dizziness or fainting.

The medical community remains unsure about what causes a reduction in the return of blood to a person's heart in OI, or why a person's heart starts to beat rapidly with POTS. Current thought is there are many mechanisms involved. Some people experience, 'peripheral denervation,' or neuropathic POTS while others present with symptoms that are due to sustained over-activity of their sympathetic nervous system referred to as, 'hyperadrenergic POTS.' Still others have POTS which is dominated by features of de-conditioning.

Symptoms Related to POTS

The tachycardic response of POTS is the hallmark symptom of the syndrome. At times it is accompanied by a decrease in the person's blood pressure and a number of additional symptoms which are associated with hypotension, although a person's blood pressure usually does not drop with POTS. Low blood pressure when a person stands is a completely different entity referred to as, 'orthostatic hypotension.' Low blood pressure related to any cause can prompt the following symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Extreme fatigue
• Exercise intolerance
• Fainting or, 'syncope'
• Excessive thirst or, 'polydipsia'
• Lightheadedness or, 'pre-syncope'

When a person experiences chronic or acute hypoperfusion of their organs and tissues in the upper parts of their body, it is believed to cause a number of other symptoms. These symptoms include the following:

• Dyspnea
• Headache
• Disorientation
• Tremulousness
• Cold extremities
• Muscle weakness
• Visual disturbances
• Chest pain/discomfort

Autonomic dysfunction is believed to cause people with POTS to experience a number of gastrointestinal symptoms which include:

• Nausea
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain/discomfort

People who have cerebral hypoperfusion in relation to POTS may also experience emotive and cognitive issues. Symptoms that persist while a person is in a recumbent position are hard to attribute to cerebral hypoperfusion and most likely reflect an element of fatigue or depression. With cerebral hypoperfusion, people with POTS can experience symptoms such as:

• Burnout
• Brain fog
• Depression
• Sleep disorders
• Concentration impairment
• Decreased mental stamina
• Difficulties with finding the correct word

People with POTS who have levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine that are inappropriate can experience symptoms which are anxiety-like. These symptoms may include:

• Fear
• Chills
• Flushing
• Overheating
• Nervousness
• Over-stimulation

Unfortunately, the symptoms related to POTS, 'overlap,' considerably with the ones associated with generalized anxiety disorder. Due to this, a person may be misdiagnosed with an anxiety disorder instead of POTS. Despite this it is important to understand that prolonged inactivity related to any cause, particularly when a person spends a lot of time in a recumbent position, leads to a decrease in their orthostatic reflex. What this means is that chronic inactivity with frequent time spent in a recumbent position leads to the hallmark signs of POTS.

Questions are raised about POTS because of this fact in relation to some people. Some doctors wonder if POTS is an, 'epiphenomenon,' resulting from prolonged inactivity. Many people with POTS prefer to remain in a recumbent position, perpetuating a vicious cycle.

Conditions Associated with POTS

Several conditions are associated with POTS. Conditions such as restless leg syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and others are associated with POTS. What follows are some descriptions of conditions associated with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or, 'POTS.'

• A small number of children with POTS have been associated with severe memory loss.
• Autonomic dysfunction is probably responsible for irritable bowel syndrome in many people with POTS.
• Some people with POTS experience restless leg syndrome, something that may be relieved through treatment of POTS.
• People who experience Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may also have POTS; joint hyper-mobility is a feature of the most common subtype of Ehlers-Danlos.
• Some people with fibromyalgia experience symptoms related to dysautonomia, something that may improve through treatment for POTS which will many times relieve their symptoms of neuropathic and myofascial pain.
• POTS is something that might be a cause of chronic fatigue syndrome in people who exhibit signs of orthostatic intolerance. Treatment for POTS can vastly improve, or even end fatigue for them.

Many times, POTS is accompanied by, 'vasovagal syncope,' or, 'neurally mediated hypotension,' or, 'neurocardiogenic syncope.' Vasovagal syncope involves a fainting reflex caused by a profound drop in a person's blood pressure. An autonomic dysfunction that occurs with these disorders causes a person's blood to inappropriately pool in their limbs and away from their lungs, heart, and brain. The combination of misdirected blood flow and hypotension causes syncope (fainting). Tachycardia associated with POTS might be a cardiac response to restore a person's cerebral perfusion.

Causes of POTS

Medical science does not fully understand the causes of POTS.

The majority of people with the syndrome develop symptoms during adolescence as they experience a period of rapid growth, also finding themselves experiencing gradual improvement into their mid-twenties. Other people develop POTS after experiencing a bacterial or viral infection such as pneumonia or mononucleosis. Some people develop symptoms of POTS after a form of trauma such as an injury or a car accident. Women may also develop POTS either during or after pregnancy. In one test 12.5% of 152 people with POTS reported a family history of orthostatic intolerance, something that suggests there may be a genetic inheritance associated with the syndrome.

As of this time, no one has presented an explanation for POTS that may be applied to everyone who experiences the syndrome. There are some different theories:

• Beta-receptor super-sensitivity might occur with hyperadrenergic states in some people who experience POTS.
• Alpha-receptor dysfunction might be occurring in some people with POTS. Alpha-1 receptors cause peripheral vasoconstriction when stimulated, and Alpha-1 receptor super-sensitivity might be causing dysautonomia in some people with POTS.
• Hypopaminergic states might be the underlying issue for some people who experience orthostatic intolerance. Some people have been found to experience a significant increase in their upright dopamine levels. Free plasma norepinephrine is something that also tends to be higher in these people.
• A reduced venous return is one of the primary mechanisms that causes POTS symptoms. Venous return may be reduced due to conditions like low plasma volume, denervation and venous pooling. A hyperadrenergic state is something that can result as a person's body tries to compensate for these abnormalities.
• Many people with POTS are observed with sympathetic over-activity. Sympathetic over-activity may be secondary to various factors, some of which may include venous pooling, peripheral denervation, or end-organ dysfunction. Sympathetic under-activity might also happen in some forms of orthostatic intolerance such as pure autonomic failure.

Diagnosing POTS

Achieving a diagnosis of POTS can be difficult; a routine physical exam and standard blood testing do not indicate POTS. A tilt table test is crucial to achieving a diagnosis of POTS, although all of a person's symptoms have to be taken into consideration before a diagnosis is made. Tests to rule out things such as:

• Lyme disease
• Celiac disease
• Addison's disease
• Pheochromocytoma
• Electrolyte imbalance

As well as a number of food allergies are commonly performed. A blood test might be performed to verify abnormally high levels of norepinephrine which are present in some people with POTS.

Treatment of POTS

Therapies for POTS are aimed at relieving low blood volume, or regulating circulatory issues that may be causing the syndrome. There is no single treatment available that is effective for everyone who experiences POTS. Various medications appear to be effective on a short-term basis. It is uncertain whether or not these medications help over the long-term. Simple interventions to include ensuring an adequate intake of fluids, as well as adding additional salt to the person's diet, are many times effective.

The drugs midodrine and fludrocortisone in low does are often times used to increase a person's blood volume while narrowing their blood vessels. Consuming 16 ounces of water prior to getting up may also help to raise a person's blood pressure.

Some people are helped by beta-receptor blocking agents. There is also some evidence that an exercise program may gradually improve a person's orthostatic tolerance.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or, 'POTS,' might follow a relapsing-remitting course where a person's symptoms come and go over a period of years.

In the majority of instances, a person with POTS improves, although they commonly experiences some residual symptoms.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

The straightforward style makes it easy to grasp the explanation of "POTS", which is a big plus for people looking to make sense of their symptoms or support someone who's dealing with them. Understanding POTS is crucial, especially for those experiencing unexplained dizziness or fainting upon standing. While this article sheds light on the critical connection between lightheadedness and heart health, it's important to note that not all instances of dizziness indicate a serious condition. However, the information presented here underscores the need for vigilance and proactive health management, especially for those with pre-existing conditions or risk factors. As our understanding of cardiovascular health continues to evolve, staying informed and attentive to our bodies' signals becomes increasingly crucial in preventing and managing heart-related issues. Recognizing the diverse symptoms and potential triggers can lead to more accurate diagnoses and effective management strategies, thereby improving the quality of life for affected individuals

Author Credentials: Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursing Disability Studies. As a CNA Thomas has providing care for people with all forms of disabilities. Explore Thomas' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.