Other viruses can cause POTS or dysautonomia
It’s not just COVID-19 that can cause POTS. Other viruses, such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) have been linked to POTS or other types of dysautonomia. The onset of POTS is typically precipitated by immunological stressors such as viral infection, vaccination, trauma, pregnancy, surgery or severe psychosocial stress (4).
So if you think you may have POTS, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your medical history, as well as other life events.
The good news is that you can treat POTS with functional medicine. Talk to your doctor about the best approach for you.
Treatment for POTS & Dysautonomia with Functional Medicine
The various disorders that long-covid can trigger are the exact types of health issues that conventional medicine struggles to treat. They involve multiple systems, are complex, and don’t respond well to established medication protocols.
But this is where a functional approach is well suited to POTS recovery and healing from Long-Covid. An integrative team will tailor an approach to each individual, often targeting the following areas for POTS patients.
Adrenal Support
Supporting the adrenals is an important part of POTS recovery, as they play a major role in regulating blood pressure and other bodily functions. An integrative team may prescribe adaptogenic herbs to help your body better cope with stress, while also providing education on lifestyle strategies like reducing caffeine intake and optimizing salt intake (5).
Learn more about conditions we treat: Adrenal Dysfunction & Fatigue
Nutrition & Gut Health
Poor gut health can also contribute to POTS and long-COVID-19, so it’s important to prioritize nutrition and dietary changes that support digestive health (6). A growing body of evidence has now implicated the gut microbiome—the trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that inhabit the gut, lungs, and elsewhere—in Covid-19 severity and the development of long Covid (7).
An integrative team may recommend an anti-inflammatory diet as well as supplements like probiotics or digestive enzymes to help restore the balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut microbiome.
Cardiovascular & Lymphatic
A functional approach to POTS may also include supportive cardiovascular and lymphatic treatments such as bio-identical hormone replacement, massage therapy, infrared sauna therapy, and techniques like meditation or yoga. These methods can help reduce inflammation within the body, promote relaxation and improve blood circulation throughout the body’s systems.
Thyroid
Optimizing thyroid function is also paramount to POTS recovery. An integrative team may test for and treat any underlying hormonal imbalances with the use of bio-identical hormones or dietary supplements.
Inflammation
Chronic inflammation contributes to many of the symptoms associated with POTS, so it’s important to identify and address any underlying causes that could be triggering an inflammatory response in the body (8). An integrative team may recommend changes to diet, IV therapy, or other lifestyle modifications to reduce inflammation that restricts healing.
Get started with Post-Covid recovery with functional medicine at CentreSpringMD
More ways functional medicine can treat lingering COVID symptoms
If you’re still experiencing symptoms after day 14, you should continue to take care of your body as it works hard to recover. There are many things you can do to support respiratory recovery, as well as take care of your physical and mental health
- Return to normal activities slowly, and monitor levels of fatigue.
- Support the production of glutathione–your body’s most powerful antioxidant–with n-acetyl cysteine, milk thistle, or an IV therapy drip.
- Protect your mental health by staying active, reaching out to friends or family, or setting up an energy healing session for recovery.
- Soothe body aches and pains with regular stretching, yoga, or lymphatic massage.
- Get adequate sleep, and try supportive supplements that help calm overactive neurotransmitters to help your body relax.
- Eat a healthy diet with protein, healthy fats like omega-3s, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Minimize added sugars and processed carbohydrate foods.
Try these: The 8 Best Immune Support Supplements for the Entire Family
Understanding the connection between long COVID and POTS can help you take steps to protect your health. Proper diagnosis, management, and lifestyle changes may help reduce the impact of POTS on your life. Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and look into lifestyle changes that might help manage the condition.
Resources
- https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/dysautonomia
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9287587/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9789535/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30372565/
- http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=44
- https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(20)34701-6/
- https://gut.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325989
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7914580/