Dysautonomia
What is Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia is an increasingly recognized health problem, not only in the field of neurology, but also in cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, urology, psychiatry, and primary care medicine. Long-COVID is increasing its recognition
Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is the development of symptoms when standing upright that are relieved when laying supine.
OI is most commonly caused by disorders of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), termed “dysautonomia.”
POTS
Postural Tachycardia Syndrome or POTS is a subtype of dysautonomia, defined by both OI and an increase in heart rate ≥40 bpm within 10 min of upright posture (tilt test or stand), with no change in blood pressure. No orthostatic hypotension.
POTSÂ is a disabling disorder, representing “a common pathway” for multiple different causes.Â
The heterogeneous nature of its pathophysiology presents a challenge in its diagnosis and treatment.Â
There currently is no treatment approach that works for everyone. Â
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POTS represents a spectrum impairment from mild to severe
Mayo clinic reported functional impairment and quality of life in patients with POTS are similar to that in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure NY class III-IV in 2002.Â
Vanderbilt published quality of life similar to ESRD on HD
25 % are unable to work as a result of their disability.
The natural history of POTS is not clear, but it does not appear to increase the risk of mortality
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