Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center

Brain Based Treatment for the 21st Century!

 

POTS stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome:

  • Postural: related to the position of your body
  • Orthostatic: related to standing upright
  • Tachycardia: increased heart rate
  • Syndrome: a group of symptoms

POTS  is a form of orthostatic intolerance, which means you get certain symptoms when you move from lying to standing. These symptoms are normally lightheadedness, rapid heart rate, or fainting. For adults, if you experience these symptoms and your heart rate increases by 30 bpm or your heart rate exceeds 120 bpm, you can be diagnosed with POTS. For children under the age of 18 years, the heart rate must increase by 40 bpm for a POTS diagnosis.


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What Does the Autonomic Nervous System Do?

There are two parts of the autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic division. These two divisions work together to control all vital functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and digestion. When people have problems that give them orthostatic intolerance, there is often dysfunction somewhere in their autonomic nervous system. Any form of dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system is grouped under the term, ‘dysautonomia’. Dysautonomias can cause a variety of different symptoms, which has led to the definition of several subdiagnoses. Two examples are POTS and orthostatic hypotension. In POTS, the person’s heart rate increases significantly when they stand up, in orthostatic hypotension, their blood pressure drops significantly when standing up. In all dysautonomias, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are not working together correctly.

Common Symptoms of POTS

 

  • High/low heart rate
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when standing up, standing for prolonged periods of time or during long walks
  • Fainting or near-fainting
  • Exhaustion/fatigue
  • Abdominal pain and bloating
  • Nausea
  • Nervous, jittery feeling
  • Forgetfulness and trouble focusing (brain fog)
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Blurry vision
  • Headaches and body pain/aches (may feel flu-like); neck pain
  • Excessive or lack of sweating
  • Insomnia and frequent awakenings from sleep, chest pain and racing heart rate during sleep, excessive sweating
  • Shakiness/tremors especially with adrenaline surges
  • Discoloration of feet and hands
  • Exercise intolerance
  • Diarrhea and/or constipation

Common Causes of POTS

The cause of POTS varies from person to person. Researchers do not entirely understand the origins of this disorder. Patients may develop POTS after a viral illness like mononucleosis, serious infections, medical illness, pregnancy, head trauma, and certain autoimmune conditions, such as Sjogren’s and celiac disease. The classification of POTS is the subject of discussion, but most authorities recognize three types: Neuropathic POTS, Hyperadrenergic POTS, and Secondary POTS.

Understanding the Different Types of POTS

Neuropathic POTS is a peripheral denervation/autonomic neuropathy, especially in the legs, which leads to decreased vascular control in the lower limbs. This means that the cause of POTS has to do with damage to the nerves regulating the constriction of the blood vessels in the limbs and abdomen. As a result, more blood than usual pools in the lower part of your body and doesn’t fully return to the heart and the brain.
Hyperadrenergic POTS means that POTS symptoms are associated with increased levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine. People with hyperadrenergic POTS have higher levels of norepinephrine than those with other forms of POTS.
Secondary POTS means that POTS has developed as a result of damage caused by another condition. Secondary POTS may develop in people with viral illness, mononucleosis, pregnancy, head trauma, and certain autoimmune conditions.

Common Treatments for POTS

  • Diet and nutrition changes (eg. increased salt and water intake)
  • Cardiac rehab exercises and overall increased physical activity
  • Medication (eg. salt tablets, fludrocortisone, pyridostigmine, midodrine, beta blockers)
  • Compression stockings

How are Treatments at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center Different?

 

At Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center, we specialize in understanding autonomic nervous system imbalances, concussions and other central nervous system deficits. Our team is trained to look at the nervous system with a unique approach, making our doctors successful at treating cases that are often not resolved in the traditional medical practice. We find that many patients who continue to have POTS symptoms respond very well to our treatments. With our approach, we first determine which parts of the nervous system are not working appropriately and then deliver patient-specific treatments to help the brain recalibrate. As the person gets better, we monitor them as they begin to perform more activities in order to help the person achieve their health goals.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact us or call our office at 770-664-4288.

 

Individualized Treatment Plan for POTS

Because no two brains are the same, we believe that every patient should receive care that is as individualized as they are. At Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center, our doctors specialize in assessing and treating imbalances in the brain, with the goal to help you achieve your health goals as quickly as possible. If you or someone you love is struggling with symptoms of dysautonomia, contact us to find out how we can help you!

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