Updated: 12/29/2023
When a person becomes symptomatic with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), they can experience the physical symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks, and therefore be misdiagnosed as having an anxiety disorder. Also if you are diagnosed with POTS (or any other dysautonomia-related condition) your symptoms may evolve into real cases over time because psychological treatment wasn’t given to them early enough – just like how it happens in people who suffer from chronic pain disorders without getting adequate medical care for their ailments!
It’s still unknown what causes Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). This can be difficult to diagnose because of the symptoms displayed and it may be confused with anxiety disorders like GAD or panic attacks that happen more often than not when individuals have these conditions active in their body for months before getting diagnosed by a doctor instead of spending money trying other treatments such as medicine prescribed from your pharmacy store along with self-medicating how we know best: eating chocolate (or anything else).
POTS and Anxiety Symptoms that Overlap
If you have POTS, you will suffer from at least two or more of the following symptoms:
- Racing heart rate
- Fainting
- High/low blood pressure
- Nervousness, feeling fidgety
- Blurred vision
- Troubles focusing
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Excessive or lack of sweating
- Chest pain and racing heart during sleep
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Headaches
- Body pains and aches
- High levels of norepinephrine while standing (increased sympathetic nervous system activation)
Some people with an anxiety disorder and/or panic attacks can experience signs of POTS. Signs that might be confused for someone who has both disorders include shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat or racing mind which are also common symptoms in those suffering from generalized anxiety (GAD). While neither condition causes the other, it’s not uncommon to find one before diagnosing yourself as having what feels like “POTS Symptoms”.
Anxiety is a very common condition. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the US every year, threatening to become the second most common cause of disability in the world by 2022.
Also, the parasympathetic nervous system which calms and relaxes the body by decreasing respiration and slowing down heart rate, may not be functioning normally in people with POTS. While science and medicine may not yet have the answer to treating postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, there are lots of strategies and treatments available to help with anxiety that are often intertwined with POTS.
Known Causes of POTS
Besides the myriad of symptom clusters that a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system (dysautonomia) causes, blood pressure and heart rate work together to keep the blood flowing at a normal pace. In people with POTS, there is too little blood returning to the heart when changing their position from lying to standing (orthostatic intolerance). This causes abnormally increased heart rate along with the feeling of being lightheaded or dizzy. The cause of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is unknown. However, POTS episodes often begin after pregnancy in women and may increase right before menstruation. Also, the condition may occur after major surgery, viral illness, certain autoimmune conditions, mononucleosis, or trauma.
Relaxation Techniques and Exercise
You can alleviate anxiety by practicing relaxation and regular physical activity. Daily relaxation practice arouses your parasympathetic (calming) nervous system. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, and exercise can boost happiness hormones (endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin) that help manage stress. This can be extremely helpful with conditions like POTS. However, make sure to choose the types of exercise that won’t cause post-exercise fatigue.
Overcoming Negative Thoughts
Our inner critic can sometimes generate anxiety by producing unhelpful thoughts. Once you recognize these negative thinking patterns you can begin to change them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the best techniques to challenge self-destructive thoughts and develop more successful coping strategies. Also, mindfulness meditation which involves paying close attention to experiences in the present moment with acceptance can help you alleviate anxious ruminations and build mental strength to refocus on something else.
The Quality of Life with POTS
Although each person has different experiences with POTS, in most cases, proper medications, physical activity, and adjustments in diet can improve the quality of your life. Also, addressing underlying anxiety issues can help you understand the impact anxiety may have on your condition and develop effective coping strategies.
How is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Diagnosed?
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is still relatively unknown to most medical professionals and can be difficult to diagnose. Due to the symptoms displayed, POTS is often misdiagnosed as anxiety and confused with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or panic disorder. Individuals with this condition may struggle with symptoms for months or even years before they are finally diagnosed with POTS. To be diagnosed with POTS, you need to have a heart rate increase of 30 beats per minute or more within the first 10 minutes of standing.
If you often feel lightheaded or faint, your doctor may suggest a Tilt Table Test. This test measures how your heart rate and blood pressure will react to the gravity force. While you are lying on a table, the table is slowly tilted upward. A technician or nurse records if and how your blood pressure and heart rate change during the test.
The Tilt Table Test is the most commonly used test for POTS diagnosis. However, sometimes the Tilt Table Test may not be available. In that case, a doctor may take bedside measurements of heart rate and blood pressure in the lying down and standing position at two, five, and ten-minute intervals.
It is estimated that postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome affects between 1.000,00 and 3.000,00 Americans and millions of people worldwide each year.
Other tests for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome may include:
- Echocardiogram
- Blood and urine test
- Autonomic breathing test
- Thermoregulatory Sweat Test (TST)
Conclusion
Both anxiety and POTS are very common, which means that it is possible to have both at the same time. While symptoms from a person’s heart problem aren’t harmful or life-threatening on their own, they can still feel scary if you add in other worries about what will happen next plus feelings of hopelessness as well as sadness due to constant stressors like low moods over an extended period of time turning into depression without any intervention from those close enough who care for them.
