What is POTS?
POTS is a nervous system disorder.
The nervous system is responsible for all automatic actions in the human body. When someone’s nervous system doesn’t work correctly, there is often is an issue with most all of their bodily functions or systems.
What is happening?
If someone were to go from sitting down to standing up, gravity would push blood downward & blood vessels would tighten to keep the body upright and from fainting.
A person with POTS is unable to make or maintain that tightness. To compensate & not faint, the brain tells their heart to beat faster. Often it compensates enough & fainting does not occur but the person is unable to maintain perfusion.
The easiest way to explain it is that their body is lagging and to prevent passing out, their body overcompensates (spikes heart rate, changes blood pressure, and sometimes dump adrenaline) to keep the person from fainting.
General POTS Symptoms
Fatigue
Brain fog
Memory issues
Light sensitivity
Sound sensitivity
Feeling light headed, dizzy, or fainting
Headaches
Insomnia
Burning or tingling in hands and feet
Chest pain
Heart arrhythmias / Heart racing
Muscle or joint pain
Stiffness
Breathing issues
Shortness of breath
Racing thoughts
GI issues
Nausea
Issues with hunger and thirst
Temperature regulation issues (including fevers)
Hot and/or cold intolerance
Blood pooling
Tremors
Sources: The Dysautonomia Project and Dysautonomia International
Types of POTS
Neuropathic POTS
POTS that is associated with damage to the small fiber nerves (small-fiber neuropathy). These nerves regulate the constriction of the blood vessels in the limbs and abdomen.
Hyperadrenergic POTS
This is known as Adrenaline POTS, or HyperPOTS. It is associated with elevated levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine.
Hypovolemic POTS
POTS that is associated with abnormally low levels of blood (hypovolemia)
Secondary POTS
POTS that is associated with another condition known to potentially cause autonomic neuropathy, such as diabetes, Lyme disease, or autoimmune disorders such as lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome.
Source: Hopkins Medicine