Diagnosing POTS: Do You Need a POTS Doctor?

POTS or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome can be a difficult thing to diagnose. This is mainly because of the list of symptoms that can point to a variety of other conditions. In some cases, your family doctor will have heard about and recognize POTS as a possible diagnosis, but many physicians still do not recognize POTS as a legitimate condition on its own. 

 

For that reason, if you’re experiencing symptoms like lightheadedness or fainting when you stand up, racing heartbeat when you stand up from sitting or lying down, it can definitely be to your advantage to seek out doctors that specialize in POTS syndrome first to at least rule it out.

 

Better yet, simply call Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama.  Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips are widely known as some of the most knowledgeable doctors that diagnose POTS, dysautonomia and related autonomic disorders. If it turns out through POTS testing you don’t have POTS, then at least you can move on to your regular physician with far less worry about being misdiagnosed.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

Testing for POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

POTS is a disorder that is often overlooked or misdiagnosed, with some patients dealing with symptoms for years without knowing what’s really going on and usually without relief.  The reason postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is sometimes misdiagnosed is because of the variety of symptoms that accompany this syndrome and many other conditions. The most common symptom of POTS is patient intolerance of going from lying down to standing (usually with lightheadedness or fainting, low blood pressure) and racing heart rate.

And since POTS often affects blood pressure and heart rate response to upright posture, POTS doctors employ tests such as the tilt table test to begin with.  With this test, a patient is strapped to a mechanical table, which will tilt them upright at an angle of at least 60 degrees. Measurements of heart rate and blood pressure are taken while lying flat and then again at intervals while tilted upright. The degree of differences in the numbers and patient response will guide the physician either toward a POTS diagnosis or toward something else.

 

There are a variety of other tests that help doctors determine if POTS is present, as well, such as a POTS stress test (measuring exercise tolerance), MRI's, EMG (electromyography), catecholamine tests and others. If you think you have POTS, the best thing to do first is to call Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL.  Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips are widely known as some of the most knowledgeable specialists in the areas of POTS, dysautonomia and related autonomic disorders. Call and make an appointment today and get to the bottom of your symptoms!

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

POTS Show Up Out of The Blue? You May Need to Check for APS

In a recent paper by Dr.Jill R. Schofield, MD, Professor Graham Hughes, Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld, and Dr. Svetlana Blitshteyn on the clinical association of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and APS, there appears to be evidence that for cases of POTS that seem to appear without a cause may be related to APS and symptoms may be improved by using treatments associated with APS. (read full abstract here)

What is APS? APS is an autoimmune disorder where different antiphospholipid antibodies work against against clotting factors, platelets, or cells that line blood vessel walls and cause blood to become sticky, leading to an increased risk of blood clots in arteries, veins, and placenta (resulting in miscarriage, still birth and low birth weight). And APS isn't that rare, but it is severely underdiagnosed and is estimated to affect approximately 1% of the population in the U.S.

Dr. Schofield says that "because this is a newly described clinical association, we have a lot to learn.  At this time, I believe all POTS patients should be tested for APS; other physicians might disagree.  At the very least, I believe all POTS patients with any of the following should be tested for APS: migraine, memory loss, balance trouble, livedo reticularis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, history of miscarriage, another autoimmune condition, a family history of blood clots or a family history of autoimmune disease. These were the most common findings in the patients in our study.  Also, of note, three of the 15 APS patients included our study also had Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS)."

If APS is detected, Dr. Schofield believes POTS-caused by or related to APS might improve with a trial of anticoagulants such as aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, warfarin and/or IVIG. This is why she suggests that any patients with a POTS diagnosis with no apparent cause should be tested for APS. And true, using anticoagulants can increase the risk of bleeding, however, the benefits may outweigh the risk if the hyper-coagulative nature of APS can be brought back into balance with these agents and improve or eliminate the POTS symptoms.

As always, to get the very best help with anything POTS, dysautonomia or MVP syndrome-related, make sure you contact Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips have over 40 years combined experience with accurate diagnosis and successful autonomic disorder treatment and they are your fastest track to wellness in these areas.

Make an appointment today at their new treatment center at 205-286-3200. All of the staff at Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC look forward to serving you!



Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

Diagnosed with Barlow’s Syndrome? Always Get a Second Opinion Before Surgery

About 5-10% of the world’s population is estimated to be afflicted with Barlow’s Syndrome or mitral valve prolapse (MVP). First described by John Brereton Barlow in 1966, this condition means that one or more of the valves that allow blood to flow from the upper to lower chambers of the heart don’t open and close completely, resulting a leakage of blood back through the valve and a characteristic ‘clicking’ or murmur sounds (often called a heart murmur).  And while in many cases there is some type of defect in the valve itself that requires surgery or other methods to fix, in many cases a condition with very similar symptoms called dysautonomia can actually be the cause of the dysfunctional valve, which requires a different method of treatment. That’s reason enough to always get a second opinion before having surgery.

 

POTS, known throughout history by different names such as DaCosta's Syndrome, Soldier's Heart, Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome, Neurocirculatory Asthenia, Chronic Orthostatic Intolerance and Orthostatic Tachycardia, can also have symptoms in common with MVP, which is why it garnered a name like MVP syndrome.

The point is to really make sure of what is going on before agreeing to any surgeries by getting a second opinion from an autonomic disorder specialist—simply because dyautonomia is so often mistaken for an actual prolapsed mitral valve issue.  Then seek competent help with POTS treatment, if that is what is determined to be really going on. If it truly is a prolapsed mitral valve, the autonomic specialist will be able to tell you that so that you can seek the correct treatment for that.  Again, the most important thing is get an accurate diagnosis and a second opinion any time mitral valve prolapse is suspected.

 

Your best bet, if are having MVP-like symptoms or have been diagnosed with MVP, is to call one of the best pots clinics in the nation with a brand new treatment center and the latest equipment--Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL.

 

Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips are widely known as some of the most knowledgeable specialists in the areas of POTS, dysautonomia and related autonomic disorders. Call and make an appointment today—you’ll be glad you did.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

POTS and Pregnancy: What You Should Know

Since POTS mostly affects women of child-bearing age, there are often questions about how POTS will affect a pregnancy shortly after a POTS diagnosis. The good news is that many women with POTS have had little to no issues with their pregnancies. Research has shown that 60-70% of patients will actually see a decrease in POTS symptoms during pregnancy, still 30-40% of those do experience an increase in symptoms. So, to minimize the chances of issues and make the pregnancy more comfortable, it's best for those with POTS to educate themselves about how POTS can affect them and their baby, and then seek guidance from best POTS syndrome treatment they can find.

 

Typically, POTS doctors advise women who want children to get pregnant to do that sooner rather than later because of the greater chance of fetal complications that naturally become higher at higher ages. And as higher age increases the chance of miscarriage and inability to conceive, Additionally, one study from Vanderbilt University suggested that there may be also be a higher rate of gynecological disorders in women with POTS, like endometriosis and uterine fibroids. And if autonomic body systems aren't functioning correctly, this is likely to intensify the issues associated with getting pregnant later in life.

 

This is why, if you're wanting to get pregnant and feel like you might be having any of the common symptoms associated with POTS (lightheadedness, fainting, dizziness, fatigue, inability to exercise, nausea, sensation of an abnormal heartbeat, anxiety, or blurred vision), you definitely want to see a POTS specialist to determine if you have POTS or not, then if so, get the best treatment for POTS and allow them to advise you about your pregnancy. This will greatly help minimize any complications, which can be done by taking the right steps.

 

One great resource for guidance about POTS and any POTS-affected pregnancy is Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama. Along with their new state-of-the-art autonomic disorder treatment center, Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips bring over 40 years of combined experience with managing and improving POTS, dysautonomia, and mitral valve prolapse symptoms. If you're thinking of getting pregnant and have any sense of POTS-like symptoms, give them a call today and get the facts so that you and your baby have the best chance at health.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC

Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results

2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243

http://www.mvpctr.com

(205) 286-3200

Could POTS be An Autoimmune Condition? If So, That's Big News!

Researchers from the University of Oklahoma and Vanderbilt University have recently identified evidence of adrenergic receptor autoantibody activity that may suggest that POTS is actually an autoimmune condition. The study (Autoimmune Basis for Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) earlier this year.

 

Dr. Kem, one of the researchers conducting this study says that :

 

"Our present study (A) has produced data supporting the idea that autoantibodies that normally fight infections, have instead interacted with critical site(s) on specialized cell membrane proteins which alter their normal cell function. These autoantibodies interfere with the system which controls the ability of blood vessels to constrict, which is needed to prevent a drop of blood pressure as a person stands. In POTS patients, this inadequate response to standing leads to a generalized increase of activity in the body’s sympathetic nerve system, which frequently normalizes the blood pressure.

 

This increased nerve activity, however, increases the heart rate which is a prominent symptom in POTS. We have also discovered a second group of autoantibodies in some POTS patients which directly increase the heart rate. The combination of these two autoantibodies appears to cause the abnormal heart rate response observed in all 14 POTS patients we have tested to date for these autoantibodies. We have previously identified similar autoantibodies in individuals diagnosed with idiopathic orthostatic hypotension  These autoantibodies may also explain why beta blockers aren’t always effective in treating the tachycardia seen in POTS, since beta blockers fail to completely block autoantibody activity on their protein receptor and they fail to alter the partial blockade of the autoantibodies on the arteriole blood vessels that initiate the orthostatic problem."

 

This is really good news for people that suffer from POTS disease, and may in the future provide a basis for more effective treatment, possibly even getting rid of it all together if the interfering action of those antibodies could be stopped. As always, however, it is critically important to find out for sure whether you're actually dealing with POTS, some other form of dysautonomia, or a prolapse mitral valve.

 

That is where a specialized POTS treatment doctor can quickly help you rule out whether you have POTS or not and get you on the road to recovery faster. Our recommendation? Go see a POTS doctor first, if you suspect you're having POTS-like symptoms--so that they don't get mislabeled or misdiagnosed by a doctor that isn't familiar with autonomic disorders.

 

And great place to find a great POTS doctor is Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL, one of the best pots clinics nationwide. Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips have a combined 40 years of experience with POTS and other forms of dysautonomia and they can help you quickly get to the bottom of your symptoms and on to recovery.  Call for an appointment today at (205) 286-3200. You'll be glad you did.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

What Helps Dysautonomia? Start with Accurate Diagnosis

This is a question often asked by those diagnosed with dysautonomia and many who suspect that they may have it. The first, best response is to make sure that you are, in fact, dealing with dysautonomia through proper, accurate diagnosis from a dysautonomia specialist. Why a specialist?  The reason for that is because a specialist will be able to tell if you’re really dealing with dysautonomia symptoms or something else. It’s very difficult to alleviate any condition when you’re looking the wrong way or thinking it’s something that it’s not.

 

And if dysautonomia IS the correct diagnosis, it’s also very important to then define what type you’re dealing with, as dysautonomia is a broad term covering a variety of related conditions—and many with very different treatment protocols because different things are happening in the body. This is another important reason to seek the help of a dysautonomia doctor as they’ll take through the specific test to determine what specifically is going on, then proceed with the right treatment. So the best answer to what helps dysautonomia is first, accurate, specific diagnosis and then proper treatment, in that order.

 

Fortunately, there is an easy way to get to the bottom of your symptoms and start feeling better, and that is to call Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL at 205-286-3200 and make an appointment. Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips have more than 40 years combined experience with dysautonomia and related disorders and they will help you determine accurately what is going on and make the best treatment recommendations, the first time.

 

Call today and start feeling better as soon as possible! You’ll be glad you did!

 

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC

Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200

POTS Syndrome: It’s Not All in Your Head

POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a form of dysautonomia, is slowly being recognized as an actual disease, which is a vast improvement since, for many years, the majority of physicians encountering this group of symptoms would attribute them to other causes including hypochondriasis (it’s all in your head, etc). In POTS syndrome patients, however, it has been found in recent research that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is truly not working properly (not all in your head) and this means that the body functions that it controls (heart rate, pulse, temperature, digestion, breathing, etc.) also begin to work improperly. And naturally this leads to a group of symptoms that can go from uncomfortable to life-threatening. What can be even more problematic is the common misdiagnosis of these symptoms that leads to ineffective or at least inaccurate treatment plans while not actually addressing the real issue (a dysfunctioning autonomic nervous system).

POTS syndrome can stay hidden for many years until it is triggered by something, such as a virus, a growth spurt, or another medical condition that involves the heart, digestion, respiration or any of the systems managed by the autonomic nervous system.  When POTS does express itself, it usually produces a range of symptoms that can include fainting or lightheadedness, chest pain, dizziness, headache, visual disturbances, insomnia, anxiety, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, joint pain, back pain, neck pain, general fatigue and similar. When heart rate increases by more than 30 bpm when changing positions (such as going from sitting or lying down to standing) can indicate that POTS might be present. This is known as orthostatic intolerance, or your body isn’t tolerating you changing positions very well.  A POTS syndrome doctor will be able to help you accurately determine if this symptom, for example, is related to POTS or something else that might be going on that isn’t POTS related.

The important thing in all of this, as with any suspected ailment, is to get proper diagnosis--and in this case, by someone that at least acknowledges the existence of POTS and how to test accurately. Even better, if you’re having any of the above symptoms or something similar, do yourself a favor and see a POTS syndrome doctor first. One of the best pots clinics nationwide is Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC in Birmingham, AL. Dr. Paula Moore and Dr. Susan Phillips are widely known as highly effective specialists in the areas of POTS, dysautonomia and related autonomic disorders. Call and make an appointment today—you’ll be glad you did.

Dysautonomia-MVP Center, LLC
Accurate Diagnosis & Treatment for Better Results
2470 Rocky Ridge Road Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35243
http://www.mvpctr.com
(205) 286-3200