![]() Functional Medicine Labs to Test for POTSĪ functional medicine approach to evaluating symptoms suggesting ANS imbalances should rule out other conditions that could explain or mimic them, such as adrenal or thyroid disorders, anemia, dehydration, and nutrient or electrolyte imbalances. Genetic variants in NOS3 and ADRB2 genes are also associated with POTS. This causes symptoms like tremors, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, and cold sweaty while upright and may be associated with mast cell reactivity.Īlong with mast cell dysfunction, POTS is often associated with genetic connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Some patients have a hyperadrenergic form of POTS with overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system resulting in elevated stress hormone norepinephrine/noradrenaline. It stimulates organs and glands so the body can flee or fight off danger, including increased heart rate and blood to skeletal and cardiac muscles. The sympathetic branch (“fight or flight” response) prepares the body for demands and emergencies. POTS patients and their close relatives show a higher prevalence of other autoimmune conditions like celiac disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Sjögren’s syndrome.Īnother root cause of POTS is sympathetic ANS dysfunction. ![]() Research suggests some patients develop POTS due to an autoimmune response where the body makes antibodies against its tissues, such as ANS receptors. As well as occur due to imbalances of vitamins like vitamins E, B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 that are essential to nerve function. It can also be brought on by stressors like injuries, surgeries, chemical or mycotoxin exposures, or traumatic events. ![]() It commonly follows viral or bacterial infections, including Lyme disease, Epstein Barr virus, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and SARS-CoV2. POTS is a collection of symptoms with a variety of underlying causes. This is assessed by recording heart rate and blood pressure when the patient is lying down during a 10-minute standing test or via autonomic testing using a Tilt Table Test. These symptoms can vary day-to-day and make it difficult to carry out everyday activities.ĭiagnosis is based on symptoms and a persistent increase in heart rate of at least 30 beats per minute, measured during the first 10 minutes upon standing or sitting upright without a drop in blood pressure, in the absence of dehydration or blood loss. Skin rashes, flushing, or pallor may also occur. Some patients experience dysfunctional bladder control, leading to excessive urination or nighttime urination. Since the ANS is closely intertwined with the nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract via the gut-brain axis, dysfunctional control of automatic functions can also cause GI symptoms such as: palpitations or fluttering in the chestįluctuations in heart rate and blood flow resulting from underlying dysfunction of the nervous system contribute to additional neurologic symptoms such as:.Presentation varies, but generally, patients have trouble regulating ANS functions like heart rate and blood flow. Since the ANS is responsible for regulating most of the largely automatic functions, dysautonomia can impact the ability to regulate temperature, heart rate, breathing, and sweating. ![]() Together, these control “automatic” functions that you do not consciously think about, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, pupil dilation and constriction, kidney function, and temperature control. The ANS consists of three major divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches and the enteric nervous system. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia or dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that causes debilitating and unpredictable lightheadedness and rapid heart rate upon standing.Īlthough often missed, POTS impacts one to three million Americans, with a growing number of patients experiencing POTS after recovering from COVID as well.
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