POTS or “postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome” is a poorly acknowledged situation we’ve been listening to extra about just lately.
Earlier than COVID, this debilitating situation was not broadly talked about. However in the course of the pandemic, we’ve been studying in regards to the sturdy similarities with lengthy COVID.
In reality, our current analysis exhibits greater than three-quarters of individuals with lengthy COVID we studied had POTS.
What triggers it?
A number of research, together with our personal, have proven viral an infection is the most typical set off for POTS.
Then got here the pandemic, with nearly 800 million individuals contaminated to this point with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. The World Well being Group says 10%–20% of individuals contaminated with COVID are more likely to develop lengthy COVID—when unexplained signs persist three months or extra after the an infection.
Now, extra analysis is displaying how lengthy COVID resembles POTS. Many individuals with lengthy COVID present comparable signs.
What we and others have discovered
Our current research discovered practically 80% of individuals with lengthy COVID had POTS. In individuals who had each and have been of comparable age, signs have been indistinguishable from those that bought POTS from different causes.
The individuals in our research both attended a specialist cardiology clinic for individuals with POTS or lengthy COVID, or got here by way of an extended COVID assist group on social media. So we can’t generalize our outcomes to individuals managing their lengthy COVID at dwelling or with their GP.
Earlier this yr, a evaluation stated about 30% of individuals with individuals with “extremely symptomatic” lengthy COVID additionally had POTS. Most (73%) met standards for POTS and different kinds of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
Taken collectively, we will conclude that many, however not all, circumstances of lengthy COVID could be defined by POTS—a situation we’ve identified about for years and know handle.
What occurs in case you have POTS?
We suspect some circumstances of POTS end result from a hyper-vigilant immune response to an invading pathogen, comparable to a virus. This, or one other set off, impacts the autonomic nervous system.
This a part of the nervous system balances an unlimited array of features together with sustaining blood move to important organs, digestion, temperature management, sweating and even sexual perform.
Even when the autonomic nervous system is marginally disturbed, it results in the physiological equal of anarchy.
The best of each day duties—comparable to washing your hair within the bathe—may end up in profound signs of dizziness, a racing coronary heart, breathlessness, mind fog and common exhaustion.
In different analysis printed earlier this yr, we discovered individuals with POTS have a poor high quality of life—poorer than individuals with continual diseases comparable to HIV, most cancers, or cardiovascular and kidney illness.
An extended path to analysis
Many sufferers are additionally compelled to barter a diagnostic odyssey suffering from tales of disbelief and dismissal by medical professionals, family and friends. Analysis can take years.
In our submission to the parliamentary inquiry into lengthy COVID, we shared the experiences of individuals with POTS signs and their frustration on the lack of recognition by the medical career. One well being employee stated, “I’m a nurse myself and particularly introduced up that I believed I had POTS after COVID an infection. I used to be handled like a hypochondriac and informed I had nervousness, which was completely ludicrous as I had bodily signs […] I had many displays to [the emergency department] with no assist or analysis in any way.”
We are able to do higher
Immediate analysis is important within the face of what we suspect are rising numbers of newly recognized circumstances related to lengthy COVID.
Though many individuals with POTS report they have been referred to a number of specialists earlier than they have been recognized, this isn’t at all times needed.
GPs can ask you to do a ten-minute standing check to assist diagnose it. They’ll additionally exclude different widespread causes of POTS signs, comparable to lung and coronary heart situations.
There isn’t a identified treatment for POTS. Nonetheless, as soon as recognized, there are a number of issues that may enhance and handle the situation. A questionnaire your GP may give you possibly can assist prioritize which signs to handle. You then work together with your trusted GP to handle these.
Rising fluid and salt consumption (beneath the supervision of your GP), and utilizing full-length compression tights is really useful. These assist management coronary heart fee and blood stress, and cut back dizziness.
Avoiding triggers is necessary. These embody avoiding standing nonetheless for prolonged durations, sizzling showers, massive meals excessive in carbohydrates, and sizzling environments.
Many individuals additionally profit from medicines to assist management their blood stress and coronary heart fee.
How about referral?
If referral to specialist providers are required, this may be advanced and costly. There are not any specialised clinics for POTS in public hospitals. As an alternative, POTS is especially managed within the personal sector.
Referral choices could be overwhelming. Individuals might profit from referral to a variety of well being professionals to handle their signs, together with a physiotherapist, psychologist, occupational therapist or train physiologist—ideally ones conversant in POTS.
All these obstacles means entry to analysis and remedy largely depends upon somebody having adequate cash, or being assured sufficient to navigate the well being system.