Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system and is marked by an abnormal increase in heart rate when moving from lying to a standing position. Research shows that  80-85% of people with POTS are women between the ages of 13-50 years. Have you experienced racing of your heart, spinning head and overwhelming fatigue when you get up from a chair or your bed? You might be suffering from POTS.
POTS is  a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that impacts how the body regulates blood flow and heart rate. 
The biggest symptom of POTS is a significant increase in heart rate, usually by 30 beats per minute (BPM) or more within 10 minutes of standing. This rise in heart rate can occur without a substantial drop in blood pressure, as one would usually expect in patients with uncomplicated low blood pressure.
The diagnosis for POTS can be very challenging as it can cause a wide range of symptoms, and the severity and combination of symptoms can vary from person to person.
POTS is mostly associated with changes in heartbeat, but you can experience it in so many other ways  such as leaving you feeling weak and winded.
POTS symptoms can include:

• Dizziness or feeling faint when standing
• Heart palpitations that make you feel like your heart is pounding out of your chest
• Debilitating fatigue that isn’t relieved by rest
• Brain fog that makes it hard to focus or remember things
• Shortness of breath, especially after standing or walking
• Nausea or stomach upset
• Chest tightness or discomfort
• Sweating more or less than usual
• Occasional fainting (especially when symptoms are severe)

When you stand up from a chair or bed, your body is supposed to keep everything in balance by slightly increasing your heart rate and narrowing blood vessels to keep blood flowing where it needs to go. But for people with POTS, this system doesn't function correctly and causes a dramatic increase in heart rate that can leave you feeling lightheaded, exhausted, and out of control.
POTS can develop after some of these conditions, but mostly the cause is unknown:

• Viral infections
• Significant hormonal changes, such as during perimenopause
• Pregnancy
• Trauma

It might be necessary for your doctor to perform some of these tests to diagnose this condition:

• Active stand test: Similar to the tilt table test but performed while standing without the tilt mechanism.
• Blood tests: To rule out other conditions like anemia or thyroid imbalances.
• Echocardiogram: To check for any structural issues with the heart.
• Tilt test: heart rate is monitored after you are tilted from a lying to an upright position