Wednesday, March 23, 2011

What is P.O.T.S.?

P.O.T.S. stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. What this means is that, when you stand up, the blood vessels in your legs don't constrict properly resulting in lack of required blood flow to your brain. Your heart will also begin to race ,upon standing, in order to compensate for the vessels in your legs not constricting. This can make you feel dizzy, light headed, or you might even pass out (which I personally have never done).


Symptoms of P.O.T.S. include:
  • Fainting
  • Dizzyness upon standing
  • Light headedness
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Lack of concentration
  • Brain fog
  • Anxiety
  • Hot flashes 
  • Weakness
  • Problems Sleeping
  • Exercise Intolerance 
  • Chest Pain
  • Cold Extremities
  • Fatigue after eating
  • Many Gastrointestinal issues such as: acid reflux, vomiting, nausea, constipation, etc.....
  • Depression 

     If you have POTS, you may not have all of the symptoms listed above, but you may have symptoms not mentioned in this list as well. Every POTS case is different from another. POTS is a dysautonomia. Your dysautonomic nervous system controls everything that you don't have to think about, like breathing, blood pressure, digestion, etc. Because POTS is a dysautonomia and your dysautonomic nervous system controls many functions of you body, each POTS patient will have different symptoms.
     


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*DISCLAIMER* This blog should not be used as a diagnosis or a treatment plan. If you have POTS or think you may have POTS, consult your doctor about what you should do. This blog is only for the purpose of giving some information and support for people with POTS and to document my progress in the exercise program.