POTS and Long COVID

In the aftermath (and continuation) of the COVID-19 pandemic, Long COVID and other Post-Covid Conditions have become a hot topic in medical news. One manifestation of Long COVID is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS. POTS is defined by a faster than normal heart rate (>100 bpm) upon standing upright. When patients with POTS stand up, their blood vessels don’t respond normally to norepinephrine and epinephrine, while their heart will respond; thus, blood pools in the legs while heart rate increases. The result of this is feeling dizzy, faint, or suddenly exhausted. Other symptoms of POTS include forgetfulness, heart palpitations, anxiety, dyspnea, chest pains, migraines, nausea, insomnia, and exercise intolerance. 

While POTS may seem like a new condition, it has been around since long-before COVID. My former roommate from undergrad was the first person I met who had been diagnosed with POTS, and for three years, I saw firsthand the impact it made on her wellbeing. Living with POTS made everyday activities like walking to class, going to the grocery store, or getting a good night's rest a challenge. One memory I have that stands out is a trip we took to Whole Foods, in which she almost fainted while walking from the car to the entrance. It was because of moments like this that she always came equipped with a water bottle and granola bar. Most people diagnosed with POTS are like my roommate–female and between 15-20 years old. As mentioned previously, however, significant illnesses like COVID-19 can trigger POTS in almost anyone. 

With more and more people living with Long COVID, identifying a cause and treatment from POTS is becoming more important. Today, there is no defined cause for POTS, but many researchers suspect it may be an autoimmune condition. The primary treatment options are limited to nutrition and physical activity, and there are currently no FDA-approved pharmacological therapies for POTS. While there are several clinical trials underway for finding treatments, the daily challenges patients face still remain. It is important for us as students and future providers to be aware of POTS, not only to advocate for further research, but also to be a good friend to those in our lives experiencing it firsthand. 


References:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16560-postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots  

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