"Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) can be a life altering and debilitating chronic health condition. Simply standing up can be a challenge for people with PoTS as their body is unable to adjust to gravity. PoTS is characterised by orthostatic intolerance (the development of symptoms when upright that are relieved by lying down). Symptoms include headaches, fatigue, palpitations, sweating, nausea, fainting and dizziness and are associated with an increase in heart rate from the lying to upright position of greater than 30 beats per minute, or a heart rate of greater than 120 beats per minute within 10 minutes of standing." - http://www.potsuk.org/
So, that's PoTS in a nutshell. The symptoms are hard to deal with physically, but also take their toll mentally. Many doctors do not even know PoTS exists; so getting a diagnoses can be a long frustrating process.
PoTS comes in different severities, some people being able to manage it with lifestyle changes, whilst others needing medication and finding it much more debilitating.
I take Ivabradine for my PoTS symptoms, this slows my heart down to a more manageable degree. Although I still get dizzy, exhausted, chest pains, sweating, and palpitations when I try and stay upright for too long.
PoTS needs more awareness so that doctors are able to diagnose and treat people more effectively.
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