Have you experienced episodes of an excessive heart rate when standing, dizziness, ‘brain fog’, or gastrointestinal issues? You may be experiencing Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a common disorder of the autonomic nervous system. At Move for Better Health, we have a variety of health practitioners that may be able to help you manage and treat POTS depending on your specific circumstances.
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a common disorder of the autonomic (‘automatic’) nervous system characterised by an excessive heart rate increase during movement, which are commonly triggered from transitioning from a sitting or lying position to that of an upright one. This can cause a development of further symptoms once upright, such as dizziness and faintness. This can be generally relieved upon returning back to a sitting or lying position.
This occurs because while the body can usually regulate heart rate and blood pressure through the autonomic nervous system, those who experience POTS are unable to do so due to an inability to coordinate blood vessel constriction and heart rate response, which leaves the body unable to then keep blood pressure stable.
People of all ages and genders are capable of developing POTS, however, the majority of those who have been recorded to be affected are women between the ages of 15-50. The overall cause of POTS is unknown. There is also evidence to suggest that the number of people who experience POTS is set to increase due to the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as those who will experience POTS-like symptoms. The reasons as to why this occurring is not yet well-understood and research is currently ongoing.
POTS symptoms are varied with the condition affecting each individual differently (i.e., the symptoms listed below will not necessarily apply to every individual):
At Move for Better Health, we have a variety of health services that may be able to help you manage and treat POTS depending on your specific circumstances:
Our Physiotherapists will conduct a thorough assessment to understand what your main issues and goals are. Treatment from physiotherapists may include exercise, advice surrounding managing symptoms with activities of daily life, and consideration/management of any musculoskeletal conditions that may be present. One area a Physiotherapist may look to action in relation to POTS is to facilitate and prescribe exercises. The purpose of this is to assist in increasing and stabilising blood flow and pressure. Your Physiotherapist may also refer you to other health providers if additional services or treatment is required.
iNform Health & Fitness Solution’s Exercise Physiologists may work with you to create a personalised exercise program that helps you to feel more confident with physical activity while managing symptoms. They may recommend resistance or aerobic exercises to help you achieve your individual goals, or, like with Physiotherapy, they can facilitate exercise to help increase and regulate blood flow/pressure.
The Psychologists from NLC Psychology focus on helping you overcome symptoms such as sleep difficulties and ‘brain fog’. They can also help with pain management strategies and treating any mental health concerns associated with your condition.
A symptom of POTS is gastrointestinal issues. This can occur due to the delay of stomach emptying, which can lead to nausea, as well as dysentery issues. A dietitian can assist in symptom management, as well as overall diet quality, which can incorporate meal frequency, and areas such as salt intake, which have a significant bearing on blood pressure.
To book an appointment with one of our practitioners, either call the numbers below at your preferred location, or book online here.
Depending on your specific circumstances, we recommend that your initial appointment is with a Physiotherapist or a Clinical Psychologist. A Clinical Psychology assessment is recommended if your main symptoms relate to sleep difficulties or mental health concerns. Otherwise, a Physiotherapy initial assessment is recommended for all other physical symptoms. When making a booking, please let us know that your appointment is related to POTS so our team can direct you to the most suitable practitioners. This can be done with the support of our admin team when you call one of the numbers below.
Malvern – (08) 8373 5655
Magill – (08) 7078 0303
Glenelg – (08) 8295 1294
