what os pots

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a condition that causes your heart to beat faster than normal when you transition from lying down to standing up. Normally, your body’s autonomic nervous system balances your heart rate and blood pressure to keep your blood flowing at a healthy pace, no matter what position your body is in. If you have POTS, your body can’t coordinate the balancing act of blood vessel constriction (squeezing) and heart rate response. This means that your body can’t keep your blood pressure steady and stable, which causes a variety of symptoms. Symptoms of POTS include heart palpitations, instability, lightheadedness, dizziness, passing out, feeling tired, chest pain, trouble getting enough breath, cold or painful extremities, nausea, and problems exercising. POTS is a chronic (long-term) problem, and there is no cure for it. However, treatments can help manage the symptoms. These treatments include more water and salt intake, compression stockings, medications, and lifestyle changes such as eating and drinking at regular times and trying to manage stress.