POTS

This is syndrome that has come into prominence because there is a similarity with the symptoms of long COVID.  The acronym stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.  The tachycardia is a very fast heart rate. Orthostatic means ‘to do with standing upright’. And postural means ‘to do with the position of your body’.

Normally the nervous system of the body controls the heart rate whatever the position of the body so standing upright or standing on your head makes no difference to the rate at which the blood flows.  But people with POTS are lacking this regulation.  If they go from lying down to standing up, their heart races. It is common for them have blood pool in their feet when they sit up, turning their legs and feet red, purple or blue.

Not everyone who has long COVID also has POTS but the majority do.  It has been shown that viral infections can bring on POTS, COVID being one of them. The treatment for POTS is tailored for each individual and can be slow in bringing about results.