The Three Keys to Long Term Symptom Relief

Why Blood Volume, Heart Size, and Muscle Strength Are Crucial in Resolving POTS

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), you may have heard about the importance of blood volume, heart size, and muscle strength in managing the condition. But what do these factors really mean, and how can they help you resolve POTS symptoms?

Let's break it down.

Blood Volume

Studies have shown that hypovolemia, or low blood volume, is a common feature of POTS. In fact, up to 70% of POTS patients have been found to have some degree of hypovolemia. This means that there is not enough blood circulating in the body to provide adequate oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues.

To address hypovolemia in POTS, one key strategy is to increase fluid and salt intake. This can help expand blood volume and improve circulation. However, it's important to work with a healthcare professional to determine the right amount of fluids and salts for your individual needs.

Heart Size

Another factor that can play a role in POTS is heart size. Studies have found that POTS patients tend to have smaller heart sizes compared to healthy individuals. This means that the heart may have to work harder to pump blood and maintain circulation.

To visualize this, think of a toothpaste tube. When the tube is full, it's easier to squeeze out the toothpaste. But when the tube is nearly empty, you have to squeeze harder to get the toothpaste out. Similarly, when the heart is smaller, it may have to work harder to push blood up to the brain and maintain adequate blood pressure.

To support heart function in POTS, endurance exercise can be beneficial. Endurance exercise helps improve heart size and function, which can in turn improve circulation and reduce symptoms of POTS.

Muscle Strength

Finally, muscle strength is crucial in resolving POTS symptoms. Specifically, the strength of the calf and leg muscles is important for pumping blood up to the brain when standing or sitting upright.

When you stand up, gravity pulls blood down towards your feet. In a healthy body, the calf and leg muscles contract to squeeze blood back up towards the heart and brain. However, in POTS, these muscles may not be strong enough to do this effectively, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain and symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, and brain fog. When you stand up, your leg and calf muscles contract and squeeze the veins in your legs, pushing blood up to your brain. It's like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube - the stronger your muscles, the more toothpaste in the tube, and the easier it is to push blood up to your brain. Regular exercise can help strengthen your muscles, making it easier for them to do their job. Additionally, exercising regularly can help to stimulate the production of new red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues in our body. This can be especially helpful for people with POTS, who may have deficiencies at a cellular level. If you're on a supplement regime to address any deficiencies, having larger, more active muscles can help to generate new red blood cells more quickly, ensuring that any deficiencies are addressed more efficiently.

To improve muscle strength in POTS, resistance training can be helpful. Resistance training involves working against a weight or force, such as using resistance bands or lifting weights. By strengthening the calf and leg muscles, you can improve blood flow to the brain and reduce POTS symptoms.

In summary, managing POTS involves addressing factors like blood volume, heart size, and muscle strength. By working with a healthcare professional and incorporating strategies like increasing fluid and salt intake, endurance exercise, and resistance training, you can improve your circulation and reduce symptoms of POTS.

Remember, it's important to approach POTS management with patience and persistence. Studies have shown that endurance exercise can improve blood volume by up to 30%, and resistance training can improve muscle strength by up to 50%. With time and dedication, you can make meaningful improvements in your POTS symptoms and quality of life.