POTS

POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is a form of dysautonomia, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. This branch of the nervous system regulates functions we do not consciously control, such as heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and body temperature. The key characteristics of POTS are the specific symptoms and the exaggerated increase in heart rate when standing.

Symptoms of POTS include fatigue, headaches, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, exercise intolerance, syncope, chest pain, and shortness of breath. POTS can be classified as either:

1. Primary: also known as Idiopathic POTS, which means the condition exists with no other identifiable medical condition.
2. Secondary: refers to POTS with the presence of another medical condition known to contribute to POTS symptoms.

Adding extra salt to the diet, increasing fluids, and taking medications can help the disorder.

For more information, visit John Hopkins