Unusual fatigue Headaches Lightheadedness and/or fainting Exercise intolerance, with or without chest pain and shortness of breath Heart palpitations (meaning episodes of unusual heart rhythms) Nausea and/or vomiting Diminished concentration Shaking and/or tremors Problems with the nerves (the nervous system) that affect other areas of the body
If you have POTS and not orthostatic hypotension, then your blood pressure should not drop significantly when you stand up versus when you are sitting. Alternatively, if your resting heart rate is above 120 BPM when you stand, this is also in itself diagnostic of POTS. [9] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
The tilt table test is where you lie on a table that changes positions at set time intervals. As this occurs, you are attached to machines such as an ECG and blood pressure cuff to continuously monitor your vital signs, including heart rate and rhythm, and blood pressure. Your doctor can evaluate the series of results and use this to diagnose POTS or other heart-related conditions.
The tilt table test is where you lie on a table that changes positions at set time intervals. As this occurs, you are attached to machines such as an ECG and blood pressure cuff to continuously monitor your vital signs, including heart rate and rhythm, and blood pressure. Your doctor can evaluate the series of results and use this to diagnose POTS or other heart-related conditions.
The prognosis for POTS is highly variable from case to case. For POTS where the onset follows a viral infection (termed a “post-viral episode”), approximately 50% of patients recover in two to five years time. [15] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source If you have been diagnosed with POTS, your doctor can provide you with information that is specific to you in terms of prognosis, as well as working with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. Your prognosis will depend upon the subtype of POTS that you have, your overall health history, the underlying cause of your disorder, and the constellation of symptoms (as well as the symptom severity) that you are experiencing. Non-pharmacological measures for the treatment of POTS include eliminating aggravating factors, addressing dehydration, and increasing activity. As far as medication goes, there have been no-long term studies on the efficacy of medications to treat POTS and all medication is used off label.
