While POTS is among one of the most common medical disorders affecting
adolescents and young adults, both health care professionals and
patients generally know very little about this strange condition. The
majority of POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) patients
suffer with mysterious and frightening symptoms while searching for a
diagnosis for many years. Without a proper diagnosis, there is no
possibility of treatment. Otherwise healthy appearing adolescents,
primarily females, frequently report racing hearts, headaches, fatigue,
weakness, dizziness, brain fog, visual and abdominal disturbances when
upright. Such symptoms play havoc on one's lifestyle by curtailing one's
daily activities.Most frequently the onset of POTS symptoms coincides
with the puberty growth spurt of adolescence. Adolescence is an
important period of developmental change. Puberty is associated with
maturing of many biological systems including sexual, brain and nervous
systems. POTS can be compared to an adolescent with a newly acquired
skyscraper body (tall structure) that has grown quickly - but, the
building's electrical wiring system (autonomic functions) has not yet
matured fully and is malfunctioning. Rapid growth spurts test the
ability of an immature autonomic (automatic bodily functions) system to
cope with a rapidly enlarging physical structure. The autonomic
processes, by necessity, must keep making adjustments to keep up with
the latest skyscraper-like growth. What worked well last year must
adjust further for today's taller body. Peak incidence of POTS occurs in
the 10-30 year age group.During the past 15 years, many medical centers
have studied POTS patients and have determined the mechanisms
responsible for this bizarre condition. The body's difficulty adjusting
to the upright position has been proven to be due to gravitational
shifting of blood to the lower body while upright which results in
decreased heart outflow. If you or a loved one has POTS, this book is
for you. Every page is packed with facts you need to know. Not only is
it enlightening, it will help you take back your life and achieve POWER
over POTS.
