Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Foundational Correction

POTS is an acronym for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. It is a term that describes a group of neurological conditions sharing similar symptoms.

· Postural: this relates to your body positioning

· Orthostatic: this is related to standing upright

· Tachycardia: a heart rate faster that is faster than normal

· Syndrome: several symptoms occurring simultaneously

POTS patients usually feel dizzy or tired when they rise from a sitting position. People who have POTS typically experience an increased heart rate or heart palpitations when they stand up.

If you experience these symptoms after standing upright, then the condition is known as orthostatic intolerance. It is reported that over 500,000 people in the US experience orthostatic intolerance — the primary symptom of POTS.

According to other sources, people with POTS exceed 3 Million adults and adolescents. The POTS disappear entirely within a 2–5 — year timeframe in some people. In other cases, the symptoms come and go over their lifetime.

People with POTS may also experience varying degrees of symptom severity. However, no less than 25% of these patients have symptoms so severe that they cannot perform their activities of daily living or participate in the workforce.

This article will discuss the symptoms of POTS and the role of Foundational Correction using upper cervical chiropractic in its management.

Symptoms of POTS

POTS-free individuals can sit, recline, and stand with ease. They can switch among these positions without much problem. The autonomic nervous system manages the effect of gravity on the body (according to the body’s position), including the mechanism that controls the flow of blood and body balance. Usually, the heart rate adjusts to an average of 10 to 15 beats per minute higher when standing than sitting. So, your blood pressure should decrease only slightly.

If you have POTS, your body will not send the right signals to your heart and brain when you switch positions. This causes your heart rate to increase up to 30 bpm above normal. When this happens, you’ll feel like sitting or lying back down.

Your immune cells may activate certain chemicals, which may cause flushing. This can result in headaches, breathlessness, and a feeling of lightheadedness. This activation may also trigger nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The affected person may also have blood pooling in their lower legs and feet, resulting in a purple or swollen appearance.

Other symptoms may include:

· Anxiety

· Heart palpitations

· Blurred eyesight

· Dizziness

What causes POTS?

The cause of POTS is not fully understood. Why is this so? Well, the condition doesn’t trace back to a single root cause for every diagnosed case. There is evidence that some genes may contribute to the development of POTS. There are also indications that over 50% of POTS cases might be autoimmune-related.

Life events, including: may also trigger the symptoms of POTS

· Pregnancy

· Puberty

· Viral illness

· Major surgery

· Monthly period

· Traumatic blood loss

These events may alter the activities of your autonomic nervous system for a while.

Current Treatment of POTS?

Changes to one’s diet and nutrition such as increased water and salt intake

· Increased physical activity and cardiac rehab exercise

· Compression stockings

· Medications include fludrocortisone, salt tablets, beta-blockers, midodrine, or pyridostigmine.

How does foundational correction help in the treatment of POTS?

POTS is a dysfunction within the nervous system. Foundational Shifts are the primary cause of nerve obstructions and dysfunction, including within the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. Foundational Correctionhelps remove the obstruction at the upper cervical spine (top of the neck), allowing seamless communication within the body. This will address the dysfunction within the body and correct the imbalance between your sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Your nervous system will begin to function as it should.

To verify this, a recent study examined the effect of upper cervical chiropractic work on two patients with tachycardia and POTS. The first patient was diagnosed with Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT), while the second patient was diagnosed with POTS.

After five months of adjustment, the analysis of the results showed that specific upper cervical corrections could positively affect the autonomic nervous system.

Takeaway

In over 90 percent of treated cases, management of POTS symptoms becomes easier over time. In some cases, the secondary conditions may disappear over several years. In addition, research has shown that POTS can be addressed with upper cervical chiropractic. Any questions, leave them below in the comments.