Building Awareness about
POTS and Vascular Issues
We're building awareness about the connection between POTS and Chronic Venous Disorders (CVD) to help patients and healthcare providers make more informed decisions.
Try not to get caught up on the exact time, event, or cause you believe started your POTS—it may have been a slow decline rather than a sudden event, with the final trigger simply being the straw that broke the camel’s back, exposing an underlying condition. Vascular issues can arise from various causes like hormones (women are more effected than men), surgery, accidents, illness, or even COVID. Whether it's inactivity causing blood to pool in weak veins or structural changes affecting them, it's crucial to rule out compressions or insufficiency. Think of it this way: no matter how the fire started, the priority is finding the extinguisher!
POTS and Vascular Issues
POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and vascular issues are closely interconnected. Many POTS patients may have underlying vascular conditions that contribute to their symptoms, including Pelvic Venous Insufficiency, May-Thurner Syndrome, Nutcracker Syndrome, and other venous compression syndromes. Understanding this connection is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Surprising Numbers
77%
POTS Patients Had Venous Compression
77% of our POTS patients were diagnosed with pelvic venous compression, suggesting an association between the two diagnoses.
Source: JACC Journals
4-6 Years
For POTS Diagnosis
Lack of Awareness: Many healthcare providers are not well-versed in recognizing POTS, which can lead to misdiagnosis or dismissal of symptoms. Taking an average of 5 years to get diagnosed.
50%
Misdiagnosed
Up to 50% of POTS patients report being misdiagnosed with anxiety or a psychiatric disorder before the underlying autonomic dysfunction was identified.
Symptoms
Common POTS symptoms include lightheadedness or dizziness upon standing, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, brain fog, nausea, headaches, and exercise intolerance. Vascular issue symptoms may include visible varicose veins, swelling in legs or feet, aching or heaviness in legs, skin changes or discoloration, restless legs, and pelvic pain or discomfort.
Testing and Treatment
POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and vascular issues are closely interconnected. Many POTS patients may have underlying vascular conditions that contribute to their symptoms, including Pelvic Venous Insufficiency, May-Thurner Syndrome, Nutcracker Syndrome, and other venous compression syndromes. Understanding this connection is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Navigating Diagnosis
Diagnosing POTS and related vascular issues can be a complex process. It often involves a comprehensive medical history review, physical examination, specialized autonomic testing, and vascular imaging studies. Many patients face challenges in receiving an accurate diagnosis, often seeing multiple specialists before getting answers
Research
There is a growing body of medical research linking POTS to vascular issues. These studies provide valuable insight into the connection and can be useful in helping both patients and healthcare providers better understand the condition.
This is Personal
Read hopeful stories for others who have found diagnosis and had successful treatment.
My journey began with a POTS diagnosis that transformed my once-active life into one where I could barely leave my bed. For years leading up to this diagnosis, I struggled with increasingly debilitating fatigue, unexplained pelvic pain, racing heart, and varicose leg veins.
I went through a long list of other possible causes; Adrenal Fatigue, Low Blood Sugar, Sleep Apnea, Long Covid, Depression, Anxiety, Anemia.. I addressed everything I could think of with no change in my energy. It was like grasping at straws.
Finding answers and receiving proper treatment was life-changing, but it also highlighted a crucial gap in our healthcare system. I discovered that while POTS patients typically see cardiologists and neurologists, many are never evaluated by vascular specialists who might identify underlying conditions like Pelvic Venous Insufficiency (PVI).
It took way too long (8yrs) for me to get help.
My mission is simple: ensure that every POTS patient has the opportunity to be properly evaluated for vascular issues that might be contributing to their condition.
Contact Us
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