Key Takeaways
- POTS is frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed as anxiety; Standing Up to POTS reports misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis up to 80% of the time.
- POTS is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that is most pronounced when a person moves from sitting to standing.
- Symptoms can include dizziness on standing, fainting, brain fog, heart palpitations, headaches, and fatigue, and heat or long standing may worsen them.
- Early diagnosis and syndrome-specific treatment can greatly affect prognosis, and research suggests nearly 30% of pediatric patients saw an almost complete reduction in symptoms.
- Some research reports that as many as 25% of patients are too debilitated by symptoms to work or attend school.
Nearly anyone suffering from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) will tell you how frustrating it can be to visit doctors and specialists to no avail. Many sufferers do so for years, trying to manage the symptoms, and many are dismissed or misdiagnosed as anxiety or told that their symptoms are in their heads, leading some people to suffer without treatment or relief for years. Our Portland medical malpractice lawyers at Paulson Coletti understand that a delay in diagnoses and treatment can significantly impact your prognosis and quality of life.
What is POTS
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system(ANS) . Essentially, POTS is dysregulation of the ANS that is most pronounced when an individual changes positions from sitting to standing. In a typically regulated ANS, your body will quickly adjust to the sudden pull of blood to the lower parts of your body. However, in POTS, the body does not appropriately respond, causing tachycardia and other symptoms. The Cleveland Clinic reports some of the symptoms of POTS can include:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when standing up
- Fainting or near fainting
- Brain fog or forgetfulness
- Heart palpitations
- Headaches
- Generally feeling sick
- Excessive sweating
- Exhaustion or fatigue
- Pallor in the face and purple discoloration in hands and feet when they are below the heart.
These symptoms can appear at varying times in a person’s life over the years but may be exacerbated by warmer environments, such as the shower or a hot day, menstruation, exercise, and long periods of standing. If physicians are unfamiliar with the disorder, it can be difficult to diagnose. Misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses are reported up to 80% of the time, according to Standing Up to POTS.
Treatment and Recover From POTS
As POTS has become more commonly diagnosed, there are a number of treatments available that can provide a better outcome for patients. Standing up to POTS (SutP) reports that prognoses can be greatly affected by early diagnoses and syndrome-specific treatment, citing research suggesting that nearly 30% of pediatric patients showed an almost complete reduction of symptoms. Adult-diagnosed patients may report a significant improvement in symptoms over time, but the symptom burden is still high and affects the overall quality of life.
This data shows the importance of physicians who are dedicated to truly finding an answer for their patients and avoiding misdiagnoses that may also lead to inappropriate treatment. Even for those who are diagnosed later in life, the delay in appropriate treatment can make a significant difference in their quality of life and overall well-being. Some research, according to SutP reports that as many as 25% of patients are so debilitated by their symptoms that they are unable to work or attend school.