My daughter was diagnosed with this. She is only 11. What are signs and symptons and what causes it. I have this and it's definitely not fun and I'm an adult. After battling dizzy spells for three years now, it hasn't gotten any better. I'm guessing it's not hereditary because I never had it up until a whiplash injury I sustained in 2004. I believe the main symptoms of this is severe dizzy spells which syncope episodes will follow. My POTS gets aggrivated by constant movement, standing up too fast, loud unexpected noises, elevators, and escalators. All of these will result in dizzy spells which when it gets intense it causes me to pass out for a few minutes(syncope episodes). The reason for the dizzy spells is because of the quick increase or decrease in the heart rate. At one point my heart rate was 80/60 or 60/80...I can never get that right. If I'm able to sit still or lay down, it will get my heart rate back to normal within 30 minutes to a hour or more.
The reason loud noise triggers my POTS is because of the way the heart responds to unexpected things.
Walking normally also triggers my dizzy spells so this is why I have to sit as much as possible. You may not want to do this with your daughter because her muscles can become weak very quick like mine did back in 2005. The constant dizzy spells makes me very sleepy which might make your daughter. It all has to do with the way the heart works during any kind of activity. They say medications won't cure POTS but it will help to keep it from occuring too much. Unfortunately for me, I'm on Effexor. Stay away from Effexor, Topamax, or other anti depressant medications. These will make the symptoms worse. Topamax made me even dizzier. I was dizzy all day each time I took it. Effexor greatly increased my heart rate. It caused me to be severly sleepy and it just made me lethargic. I can't get a doctor to prescribe me the meds that's actually for what I have. If your daughter's not taking any meds yet, ask your doctor about several meds. Flourinef helps but it takes away the potassium. Take suppliments to keep from losing potassium. Proamitine(Midrodrine) is another along with Celexa and Pyridostigmine Bromide. Celexa should start off at .5 mg. The Celexa and Pyridostigmine Bromide doesn't have those huge side effects and it's made to aid people who have a low tolerance for meds like me. Also see the sources below to read more about POTS. GOOGLE.COM IS THE BEST WAY TO GO CAUSES OF POSTURAL ORTHOSTATIC TACHYCARDIA SYNDROME
What causes POTS? Postural intolerance has been likened to a fever in that it is a symptom which can have many diverse root causes, both central and peripheral. Just becoming dehydrated or overly heated can cause temporary orthostatic intolerance, so it should be no surprise that there are many proven and suspected causes.
Viral and bacterial infections that damage the autonomic nervous system are a common cause. Patients who develop POTS due to an infection, with no deeper underlying genetic cause, have the best prognosis for a spontaneous recovery over time.
Exposure to toxic chemicals which damage the autonomic nervous system can cause POTS. This group includes adverse reactions to prescription drugs. Some Gulf War veterans have developed POTS like symptoms after being forced by military leaders to take inadequately tested experimental drugs and being exposed to small amounts of nerve gas.
POTS can be caused by genetically inherited neurotransmitter disorders.
POTS can be caused by peripheral nerve damage due to rapid weight loss, diabetes.
POTS can be a phase in the gradual onset of Shy-Drager Syndrome.
There is a mixed bag of less common potential causes, both genetic and acquired. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder which permits veins to dilate excessively, is now an accepted cause of POTS. Essentially anything that can damage the brain stem and important autonomic nervous system structures can cause POTS.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of POTS is defined as a minimum 30 bpm acceleration of heart rate from the supine to the standing position within 10 minutes or less, with a peak heart rate reaching at least 120 bpm.
Neurally mediated hypotension is commonly associated with POTS, but having NMH is not a prerequisite for a diagnosis of POTS.
The length of time POTS patients can comfortably stand varies widely from case to case. Patients may become dizzy, lightheaded, and develop chest and heart pain from standing beyond their limit.
Blood pooling in the legs and splanchnic bed (abdomen) may occur, which is felt in the same way you feel water fills your mouth when you get a drink.
Shortness of breath, blurry vision, tingling in the legs, sweating, and feelings of heat from increased adrenaline production are common symptoms of orthostatic stress. Some patients pass out frequently' Many patients experience spells of supine or standing vertigo.
Left sided heart pain so common among POTS sufferers is due to differences in heart chamber pressures, abnormal heart wall motions, and/or nerve damage. It is not related to common angina which is usually caused by blocked arteries cutting off the supply of blood to the heart.
Irregular heart beats (palpitations) are a universal symptom of POTS.
POTS often generates a temporary rise in blood pressure immediately upon standing due to the rapid acceleration of heart rate.Patients often have measurably low standing pulse pressure, which can be an indicator of venous pooling.
Frequent urination is a common symptom of POTS. Some POTS patients develop a diabetes insipidus like syndrome which is believed to be caused by somewhat reduced vasopressin output, low blood volume, and disruption of the alpha adrenergic system, which helps the kidneys retain water and sodium.
Reactive hypoglycemia is a common problem in POTS patients.
Most patients with POTS have difficulty sleeping, which may result from a number of factors, including abnormally high adrenaline levels caused by increased orthostatic stress (the stress of standing). Central sleep apnea is a common problem for people with POTS. Central sleep apnea causes breathing to temporarily stop while sleeping.
Low grade fevers, mild chills, and general flu like symptoms are common with POTS.
Chronic fatigue and weakness are common problems for POTS sufferers. Those who have pure POTS, without CFS or significant immune system involvement, generally feel better and have greater postural tolerance despite tachycardia. Many POTS patients have common allergies, uncommon food allergies, and are highly drug and chemical sensitive. Many POTS patients experience severe night sweats.
Nausea, bloating, and sore intestines are a frequent complaint. Irritable bowel syndrome & difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) are also frequently reported.
Numbness in palms and soles is a common symptom of POTS. Unusual coldness of the hands is also common.Frequent itchiness, burning and tingling sensations all over the body are common.
Most POTS patients have poor balance. An abnormal gait is common. Patients may walk with legs wide apart and feet flared out to the sides as an instinctive adaptive response to increase their stability.
Eye pain is another common problem, as is a feeling of pressure behind the eyes.Patients see tiny little black dots floating in front of their eyes.
Supine blood pressure readings are usually normal or below normal in POTS patients. A poor memory is a major symptom of POTS.
A good site I found that would be great for you to get more info at is www.pediatricnetwork.org. They have live forums and lots of links to info on this. Good luck! |
