PICTURE: PEXELS/SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
If you have been experiencing trouble with your sight, difficulty sleeping, or feeling as if your brain is foggy, it may be time to take note of your body.
Your health may be attempting to tell you something significant through these seemingly unconnected symptoms. They may simply be symptoms of stress or burnout, but they may also indicate more serious issues that need to be looked into.
The Cleveland Clinic states that postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disease known to make your heart beat more quickly than usual when you stand up after sitting or lying down. It’s a form of orthostatic intolerance.
“Each case of POTS is different. People with POTS may see symptoms come and go over a period of years. In most cases, with adjustments in diet, medications, and physical activity, a person with POTS will experience an improvement in their quality of life,” the clinic also mentions.
According to Dysautonomia International, “The current diagnostic criteria for POTS is a heart rate increase of 30 beats per minute (bpm) or more, or over 120 bpm, within the first 10 minutes of standing, in the absence of orthostatic hypotension. In children and adolescents, a standard of a 40 bpm or more increase has been adopted.”
The above health awareness source also states that to assess the autonomic nervous system in POTS patients, doctors may conduct more thorough tests including the Thermoregulatory Sweat Test (TST), the Quantitative Sudomotor Axon Reflex Test (QSART, also known as Q-Sweat), skin biopsies that examine the tiny fibre nerves, stomach motility studies, and more.
Healthdirect claims that when standing, you might feel lightheaded, dizzy, exhausted, or unsteady, and experience headaches, palpitations, chest discomfort, or blurred vision. Additionally, you may experience symptoms unrelated to standing, such as fatigue and issues with sleep, aches, particularly in the shoulders, neck, and head, and trouble thinking.
According to the above health website, there is no cure for POTS, however, there are therapies that can ease the symptoms, such as the below tips:
- Consume two to three litres of water each day
- Keep alcohol, energy drinks, tea, coffee, and heavy meals to a minimum
- Get as much exercise as you can
- Steer clear of hot places and hot showers
- Put on compression stockings
- Avoid standing for extended periods
