Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), is a medical condition of which many people have little or no knowledge. Yet, current estimates provided by The Johns Hopkins University state that as many as three million Americans currently suffer from POTS. If you or someone in your family is suspected of having developed this medical condition, the following information may provide insight that will help you better understand POTS and how it may affect your life.
Four Types of POTS
POTS is a medical condition that is still being researched. At this time, researchers agree that four different types of POTS exist, including:
Even though each of these four types of POTS is associated with different symptoms and effects on the body, it is important to note that a single patient can be afflicted with more than one type of POTS at the same time.
Understanding common symptoms
Those who suffer from POTS often notice common symptoms that lead to their diagnosis. One of the most common is feeling dizzy and experiencing a rapid rise in heart rate. These symptoms can be accompanied by feeling faint, experiencing nausea, shortness of breath, brain fog, sleep issues, fatigue, abnormal perspiration, as well as others. In some cases, patients may also experience pain in the head, chest, or abdomen.
Medical treatments to help control POTS symptoms are available, including some ways to reduce the severity and discomfort patients experience, such as regular exercise, drinking more fluids, and positive dietary changes.
POTS and other medical conditions
Patients who are experiencing symptoms that may be related to POTS should also be aware that there are other medical conditions that are sometimes present in the same manner. There are also some other conditions that may be complicated by POTS, such as asthma and inflammatory bowel disease.
Learning more about POTS and the treatments available for controlling or minimizing symptoms is the first step in successfully managing the condition. Those who suspect they are experiencing symptoms of POTS should start by making an appointment with a medical professional who specializes in treating POTS patients to get the treatment and information they need. For more information regarding POTS syndrome, contact a POTS syndrome doctor.
Share20 November 2020
I am a mother of four wonderful children, and like other parents, I have been to my fair share of health care clinics. It seems like my children are always getting scrapes and coming down with colds. When I was a new parent, I never knew whether I should take my injured or ill child to the emergency room or local urgent care facility. I received some simple advice from a seasoned parent that made my decisions easier that I want to pass onto all new parents, along with other health tips I've learned. he told me that she tended to take her children to the ER when they were bleeding or had very high temperatures and took them to the local urgent care for any other problem. I have followed her advice ever since, and my children remain healthy and happy!
