5 Signs You May be Developing POTS Syndrome
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), is one of the disorders under the Dysautonomia umbrella. Dysautonomia means your autonomic nervous system isn’t regulating your body as it should.
When you have POTS, sometimes a doctor can mistakenly diagnose you with anxiety, especially when medical tests have all been normal.
The symptoms can feel the same. Rapid heart rate, sweating, shaking or tremors and dizziness are commonly diagnosed as anxiety. If you don’t feel particularly anxious, but notice symptoms of anxiety, you may want to ask your doctor about the possibility of having POTS.
#1 Increased Heart Rate
One of the most troublesome symptoms of POTS is the tachycardia, the increased heart rate. When you have POTS, that means your heart rate is increasing more than it should. Your heart rate should increase 10-15 beats per minute when you stand from a seated position. If you have POTS, your heart rate increases by 30 beats per minute or increases to 120 beats per minute within 10 minutes of standing. If you notice a dramatic increase in your heart rate while waiting in a checkout line, you may have POTS.
#2 Dizziness or Lightheadedness
When you have POTS, gravity is not your friend. Your blood settles in your legs and abdomen instead of circulating to your heart and brain as it should. The increase in your heart rate means the chambers of your heart may not be filling adequately before pumping blood back out through your body. Your heart is fine, but the mechanisms that control your blood pressure and heart rate are not sending all the right signals. This can result in lightheadedness, dizziness and may lead to fainting. You may notice dizziness when you stand from a seated position. Not everyone who has POTS will faint, but most will feel unwell.
#3 Heat Intolerance
You may notice that your symptoms get worse when you are warm. You may have a hard time being outdoors on a hot day, or feel quite ill in a warm room. The autonomic nervous system controls temperature regulation, and may not always respond appropriately when you have POTS.
You may also notice symptoms such as nausea and dizziness when you try to take a shower. This is because heat reduces blood pressure as the body tries to cool itself. If you have POTS, you will be more sensitive to the changes in blood pressure. You may also be able to see the blood pooling in your feet; they may become very red or even blue with the decreased circulation.
#4 Exercise Intolerance
It’s normal to feel invigorated after a good workout. If you have POTS, your exercise routine could make you feel extremely fatigued. Your legs and hands could shake, and you may feel nauseous and slightly confused.
It is not impossible to exercise when you have POTS, but you may need to adjust your workout routine. With treatment, you may be able to resume your current workout, or try an exercise that does not require exercise in an upright position, like a recumbent bike or swimming.
#5 Exhaustion or Fatigue
You may have noticed that routine activities leave you feeling drained. You may not have the energy you once did. When you have POTS, your body is working much harder to keep you upright and coherent. You may also feel like you have trouble focusing on what you are doing, or following conversations. Unfortunately, this is also part of the POTS territory.
Not all doctors are familiar with POTS.
If you have symptoms and no explanation for them, talk with your doctor about being tested for POTS. Your doctor can do a simple orthostatic test in his office. Your blood pressure and heart rate will be recorded after lying down for 10 minutes and then standing upright. The definitive test to diagnose the disorder is the tilt table test, but not all doctors find this test necessary.
POTS cannot be cured. The first line of treatment for the disorder is increased fluids and increased salt, sometimes medication. If you have POTS, a proper diagnosis will be your first step to getting the best medical care.
