How Do I Know If I Have POTS?
Over 30% of COVID patients have continued to suffer symptoms for months after contracting the virus.2 I predict that in a few years, it will be recognized that patients are continuing to suffer for years!
POTS is a form of dysautonomia, a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system – the system of the body that works automatically – you should not need to “make it work”.
The autonomic nervous system regulates body processes like heart rate, body temperature, digestion, and blood pressure, so issues with this system can be debilitating.
Symptoms of POTS may include all of the following:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Brain fog
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart rate when standing
- Moderate or severe fatigue
- Flushing
We also see many cases of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a potentially disabling fatigue syndrome that often comes with POTS.
It is important to understand that although POTS involves a fast heart rate upon standing and includes the symptoms listed above, the syndrome reaches far beyond this presentation. Patients can develop as many as 100 symptoms, and they can affect any system of the body. Reducing this illness to “orthostatic tachycardia” diminishes its disabling potential and the suffering that can occur.
If you experience more than three of the symptoms above at the same time, you may have POTS. When you’re ready, we’re here to help treat you.