Finally, something that explains it, helps to understand so much about oneself.
"Fainting", "Blank out".... freaked people out when you would 'just drop' to the ground. Doctor said it was the 'thump' of the landing that would 'restart' my heart. Good thing I was standing and not sitting when it would happen. The word 'stroke' has echoed more than once in the doctors' offices over the years. ...
POTS is an abnormality of the involuntary nervous system. When a person stands ups, blood vessels will contract to combat the force of gravity and increase heart rate to keep blood pumping without any problems to the chest and head. When this contraction doesn’t happen, the heart can overcompensate and cause a spike in heart rate when it doesn’t necessarily need to. That alters blood flow to the brain. There are many symptoms which act as indicators for POTS. These can include: Dizziness, Palpitations, Shaking Chest Pain, Shortness of breath, Lapse in concentration, when getting up Fainting!
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is a condition where an unusually significant increase in heart rate accompanies the action of an individual going from lying to standing. It is a common form of autonomic dysregulation characterized as an excessive tachycardia upon standing in the presence of orthostatic intolerance. Current adult diagnostic criterion requires a heart rate increase of greater than or equal to 30 bpm within the initial 10 minutes of standing or head-up tilt (HUT) in the absence of orthostatic hypotension.
POTS predominantly affects premenopausal females between 15 and 50 years of age, manifesting with symptoms of fatigue, headache, palpitations, sleep disturbance, nausea and bloating.
Knowing - brings relief and understanding. That brings comfort.