The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Men's Weekly

.

What is POTS? And how is it related to long COVID?

  • Written by Marie-Claire Seeley, PhD Candidate, Australian Dysautonomia and Arrhythmia Research Collaborative, University of Adelaide
What is POTS? And how is it related to long COVID?

POTS or “postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome” is a poorly recognised condition we’ve been hearing more[1] about recently.

When people stand up, get out of bed or off the sofa, their heart races and they feel dizzy and fatigued, severely impacting their quality of life. Everyday tasks, such as washing their hair in the shower or working, become challenging because people cannot stay upright.

Before COVID, this debilitating condition was not widely talked about. But during the pandemic, we’ve been learning about the strong similarities with long COVID.

In fact, our recent research shows more than three-quarters[2] of people with long COVID we studied had POTS.

Read more: When does COVID become long COVID? And what's happening in the body when symptoms persist? Here's what we've learnt so far[3]

What triggers it?

Multiple studies[4], including our own[5], have shown viral infection is the most common trigger for POTS.

Then came the pandemic, with almost 800 million people[6] infected so far with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. The World Health Organization says[7] 10-20% of people infected with COVID are likely to develop long COVID – when unexplained symptoms persist three months or more after the infection.

Now, more research is showing how long COVID resembles POTS. Many people with long COVID show similar symptoms.

What we and others have found

Our recent study found nearly 80%[8] of people with long COVID had POTS. In people who had both and were of similar age, symptoms were indistinguishable from those who got POTS from other causes.

The people in our study either attended a specialist cardiology clinic for people with POTS or long COVID, or came via a long COVID support group on social media. So we cannot generalise our results to people managing their long COVID at home or with their GP.

Earlier this year, a review[9] said about 30% of people with people with “highly symptomatic” long COVID also had POTS. Most (73%)[10] met criteria for POTS and other types of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

Taken together, we can conclude that many, but not all, cases of long COVID can be explained by POTS – a condition we’ve known about for years and know how to manage.

Read more: We can learn a lot about long COVID from years of diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome[11]

What happens if you have POTS?

We suspect some cases of POTS result from a hyper-vigilant immune response to an invading pathogen, such as a virus. This, or another trigger, affects the autonomic nervous system.

This part of the nervous system balances a vast array of functions including maintaining blood flow to vital organs, digestion, temperature control, sweating and even sexual function.

Even if the autonomic nervous system is marginally disturbed, it leads to the physiological equivalent of anarchy.

The simplest of daily tasks – such as washing your hair in the shower – can result in profound symptoms of dizziness, a racing heart, breathlessness, brain fog and general exhaustion.

In other research published[12] earlier this year, we found people with POTS have a poor quality of life – poorer than people with chronic illnesses such as HIV, cancer, or cardiovascular and kidney disease.

Man washing hair in shower, dark hair with shampoo suds
Washing hair in the shower can leave people debilitated. Shutterstock[13]

A long path to diagnosis

Many patients are also forced to negotiate a diagnostic odyssey littered with tales of disbelief and dismissal by medical professionals, friends and family. Diagnosis can take years[14].

In our submission[15] to the parliamentary inquiry into long COVID, we shared the experiences of people with POTS symptoms and their frustration at the lack of recognition by the medical profession. One health worker said:

I am a nurse myself and specifically brought up that I believed I had POTS after COVID infection. I was treated like a hypochondriac and told I had anxiety, which was absolutely ludicrous as I had physical symptoms […] I had many presentations to [the emergency department] with no help or diagnosis whatsoever.

Read more: We got some key things wrong about long COVID. Here are 5 things we've learnt[16]

We can do better

Prompt diagnosis is vital in the face of what we suspect are rising numbers of newly diagnosed cases associated with long COVID.

Although many people with POTS report they were referred to multiple specialists[17] before they were diagnosed, this is not always necessary.

GPs can ask you to do a ten-minute standing test[18] to help diagnose it. They can also exclude other common causes of POTS symptoms, such as lung and heart conditions.

There is no known cure for POTS. However, once diagnosed, there are multiple things[19] that can improve and manage the condition. A questionnaire[20] your GP can give you can help prioritise which symptoms to manage. You then work with your trusted GP to manage these.

Increasing fluid and salt intake (under the supervision of your GP), and using full-length compression tights is recommended. These help control heart rate and blood pressure, and reduce dizziness.

Woman adding salt to pot of boiling water on stove Eating more salt can help. Shutterstock[21]

Avoiding triggers is important. These include avoiding standing still for extended periods, hot showers, large meals high in carbohydrates, and hot environments.

Many people also benefit from medicines[22] to help control their blood pressure and heart rate.

Read more: What should my heart rate be and what affects it?[23]

How about referral?

If referral to specialist services are required, this can be complex and expensive. There are no specialised clinics for POTS in public hospitals. Instead, POTS is mainly managed in the private sector.

Referral options can be overwhelming. People may benefit from referral to a range of health professionals to manage their symptoms, including a physiotherapist, psychologist, occupational therapist or exercise physiologist – ideally ones familiar with POTS.

All these barriers means access to diagnosis and treatment largely depends on someone having sufficient money, or being confident enough to navigate the health system.

If you have symptoms such as those we’ve described, see your GP for assessment. For more information about the condition, see the Australian POTS Foundation website[24], which also lists[25] doctors and allied health professionals who are “POTS aware”.

References

  1. ^ hearing more (www.smh.com.au)
  2. ^ three-quarters (www.amjmed.com)
  3. ^ When does COVID become long COVID? And what's happening in the body when symptoms persist? Here's what we've learnt so far (theconversation.com)
  4. ^ Multiple studies (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  5. ^ including our own (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  6. ^ almost 800 million people (covid19.who.int)
  7. ^ says (www.who.int)
  8. ^ nearly 80% (www.amjmed.com)
  9. ^ review (www.nature.com)
  10. ^ Most (73%) (www.onlinecjc.ca)
  11. ^ We can learn a lot about long COVID from years of diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome (theconversation.com)
  12. ^ published (link.springer.com)
  13. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  14. ^ take years (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  15. ^ submission (www.aph.gov.au)
  16. ^ We got some key things wrong about long COVID. Here are 5 things we've learnt (theconversation.com)
  17. ^ multiple specialists (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  18. ^ ten-minute standing test (potsfoundation.org.au)
  19. ^ multiple things (www.ausdoc.com.au)
  20. ^ questionnaire (potsfoundation.org.au)
  21. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  22. ^ medicines (www.ausdoc.com.au)
  23. ^ What should my heart rate be and what affects it? (theconversation.com)
  24. ^ website (potsfoundation.org.au)
  25. ^ lists (potsfoundation.org.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/what-is-pots-and-how-is-it-related-to-long-covid-208280

Times Magazine

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

CNC Machining Meets Stage Design - Black Swan State Theatre Company & Tommotek

When artistry meets precision engineering, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Tommotek worked alongside the Black Swan State Theatre Company on several of their innovative stage productions. With tight deadlines and intrica...

The Times Features

Running Across Australia: What Really Holds the Body Together?

How William Goodge’s 3,800km run reveals the connection between movement, mindset, and mental resilience As a business owner, I’ve come to realise that the biggest wins rarely com...

Telehealth is Transforming Healthcare Services in Australia

It has traditionally not been easy to access timely healthcare in Australia, particularly for people who live in remote areas. Many of them spend hours on the road just to see a...

Launchd Acquires Huume, Strengthening Creative Firepower Across Talent-Led Marketing

Launchd, a leader in talent, technology and brand partnerships, has announced its acquisition of influencer talent management agency Huume from IZEA. The move comes as the medi...

Vietnam's "Gold Coast" Emerges as Extraordinary Investment Frontier and Australian Inspired Way of Life

$2 Billion super-city in Vung Tau set to replicate Australia's Gold Coast success story A culturally metamorphic development aptly named "Gold Coast" is set to reshape Vietna...

Choosing the Wrong Agent Is the #1 Regret Among Aussie Property Sellers

Selling your home is often one of the largest financial transactions you’ll make, and for many Australians, it’s also one of the most emotional. A new survey of Australian home se...

Travel Insurance for Families: What Does it Cover and Why it’s Essential

Planning a family trip is exciting, but unexpected mishaps can turn your dream vacation into a stressful ordeal. That’s where travel insurance comes in—it’s your safety net when ...