COVID-19 has impacted the health of millions of people worldwide, unlike any other disease or medical condition. And we are still finding out about newer ways that it can impact the human body. People are experiencing symptoms months after the virus initially affected them. Long-haul COVID has people complaining of lingering health problems months later. Research is underway to understand the impact of COVID on the heart clearly. We have some evidence pointing towards coronavirus’s role in triggering postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or POTS in individuals experiencing long-haul COVID. 

Before we go any further, let us discuss what POTS are in brief. POTS is a condition that directly affects the heart and causes the heartbeat to race by a minimum of 30 beats per minute when a person changes their position from lying down or sitting to standing. POTS is caused due to the failure of your autonomic nervous system to function correctly. In this condition, the autonomic nervous system doesn’t regulate the heart rate and blood pressure that it usually does when there is a change in body posture. 

Many things can trigger POTS in individuals. It could be surgery or infection, but bacteria and viruses are found to trigger it more often than anything else. And researchers now believe that coronavirus could also trigger POTS as some COVID-recovered patients have experienced POTS symptoms later. These symptoms include fast heart rate, dizziness, nausea, headache, fatigue, and brain fog, amongst others. 

Anyone who has had COVID and recovered with mild or serious symptoms can get POTS weeks or even months later. Having said that, there are a few things that can make you more susceptible to getting post-COVID POTS. While the researchers are not 100% sure, people who had experienced dizziness, palpitations, and other such symptoms prior to their encounter with COVID are vulnerable. 

POTS has autoimmune marker rates as high as in diseases like celiac, thyroid, and rheumatoid arthritis. It also causes inflammation in different parts of the body, including the heart. 

Now, if you experience any POTS symptoms, you need to know what you can do to manage them. If you can’t get immediate medical attention, you can sit or lie down to overcome your dizziness. When things calm down, make sure you don’t rush your posture. Stand up slowly and give your body enough time to adjust. This is a short-term solution. To properly manage the symptoms, you should speak to a doctor if you have any POTS symptoms. Make sure that you tell the doctor about your COVID encounter. 

Doctors will suggest treatment based on medical history, symptoms, and age. You may be asked to drink more water, use more salt in your food, and wear compression stockings. Your doctor may also prescribe medication based on your symptoms.