A Metabolically Directed Approach to POTS

What is POTS?

Paroxysmal Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Conventional Medicine Approach to POTS – Treating the Symptoms of POTS

Midodrine – causes vasoconsriction, raising blood pressure
Fludrocortisone – steroid which increases salt retention raising blood pressure
Beta Blockers – lowers heart rate
Other drugs – to treat associated symptoms

What are the Root Causes of POTS?

Chronic stressors in the form of dietary indescretions, environmental toxins, stealth organisms, genetic predispositions, poor quality sleep, overwork, lack of rest, Harmful EMFs, emotional/situational stress contribute to excessive reliance on your adrenal glands in defense of this stress.

Chronic Stress Can Initially Increase ACTH and Cortisol Levels

Over Time These Chronic Stressors Lead to a Depletion in Vital Metabolic and Hormonal Reserves

Aldosterone levels can begin to drop
Aldosterone is a key adrenal mineralcorticoid that helps control mineral balance in your body
Low aldosterone activity, leads to mineral depletion
Mineral depletion leads to episodes (paroxysms) of crashing blood pressure when standing (orthostasis). When your blood pressure drops, your heart rate will increase (tachycardia) to compensate for your low blood pressure.
Hence the diagnosis of paroxysmal (episodes) orthostatic (low BP when standing), tachycardia (fast heart rate) syndrom

POTS is not a Disease it is a Syndrome

POTS is a symptom of your problems, but not the cause of your problems
The root causes are the chronic stressors – fix the root causes, fix the problem. Treat the symptoms, cover up the problem

Dietary Issues Contributing to POTS

Eating a low cholesterol, low saturated fat diet, high unsaturated fat diet

Aldosterone (mineralcorticoid) is Made From Cholesterol

Saturated Fats Have no Double Bonds, They are very Stable and Tend to Stimulate Your Metabolism and Reduce Adrenal Stress

Unsaturated Fats Have Double Bonds – They are unstable and tend to Slow Down Your Metabolism and Increase Adrenal Stress

A Dietary Intervention for POTS

Eat enough cholesterol to “feed” your adrenal glands
Avoid polyunsaturated fats (like soy oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, corn oil…) which stress your adrenal glands

Biotoxin Illness

Chronic Exposure to Contaminated Environments are Extremely Stressful, Especially in Genetically Predisposed Individuals

Get genetically tested for HLA DR gene to identify potential genetic predisposition
Test (and remediate) or Avoid Suspicious Environments
Detoxify Your Body Systems of Environmentally Mediated Toxins

The Work of Emanuel Revici MD

Fatty Acid vs Sterol Levels Imbalances Leading to Chronic Stress, Adrenal Fatigue, Mineral Depletion and POTS

Too Many Fatty Acids, Not Enough Sterols

A Balance Between Fatty Acids and Sterols

Too Many Sterols

Optimizing Sterol/Fatty Acid Activity can Reduce Effects of Stress

These lipids which are part of your cell membrane control energy production and contribute to control of adrenal function and mineral balance
Some people may have a tendency towards an Anaerobic (lack of oxygen) metabolism
Some people may have a tendency towards Dysaerobic (dysfunctional use of oxygen) metabolism
Either imbalance can contribute to POTS

Chronic Stressors can Impair Thryoid Function Contributing to POTS

Impaired thyroid function contributes to additional adrenal stress and autonomic dysfunction
Often times the patient will start producing reverse T3 which blocks the functioning of your active thyroid hormones
Reverse T3 syndrome can contribute to mineral depletion and orthostasis (low BP when standing)

Several Factors can Contribute to Reverse T3 Syndrome

Stealth Organisms

Hidden or “stealth organisms” – viruses, bacteria, parasites can contribute to chronic stress, adrenal fatigue, mineral depletion and finally POTS

Test and Treat for Tick Borne Diseases

Lyme Disease
Erlichiosis
Babesiosis
Bartonella
Rocky Mountain
Spotted Fever (RMSF)
Anaplasmosis
Tickborne Relapsing
Fever (TBRF)
Rickettsia
Tularemia
Powassan Disease
Borrelia mayonii
Borellia miyamotol

Consider other Sources of Toxicity

Chronic Mold Exposure leads to immune dysfunction which can contribute to downstream distortions in your microbiome, paving the way for:
Fungal overgrowth – Candida, yeast, small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO)
Dysbiosis – small intestinal bowel overgrowth (SIBO), imbalance in bowel flora, H Pylori
Parasites
Heavy Metals

Many Menstruating Women Suffer from Increased POTS Symptoms During Parts of Their Menstrual Cycle

Increased POTS early in cycle can indicate sex hormonal deficiency
Increased POTS mid-cycle (ovulation) can indicate excess estrogen
Increased POTS in mid-luteal phase can indicate sex hormone excess

Autonomic Nervous System Imbalances

POTS is Always Related to Autonomic Dysfunction

Autonomic Dysfunction in POTS

Often elevated parasympathetic tone leads to crashing blood pressure when standing
Whereas normal or high sympathetic tone contributes to tachycardia

Autonomic Dysfunction can be Ameliorated by Reducing Stressors on your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Avoid dietary sugar and reduce excess carbs and eat enough healthy (saturated) fats to stabilize your blood sugar reducing ANS stress
Avoid dangerous environments which then stimulate your flight or flight response (leading to episodes of tachycardia)
Practice “mind-body” techniques to help reduce limibic dysfunction contibuting to ANS stress
Practice healthy habits sleep-wake cycles, activity/rest to reduce stressors on your ANS

Addressing Mineral Depletion to Help Treat POTS

You may benefit from adding extra natural salt in your diet (preferably sea salt, Himalayan salt, pink salt, not iodized “processed” salt
Avoid foods (like coffee) and medications (like diuretics) that tend to deplete your minerals

Metabolically Directed Approach to POTS

Fix what is wrong – always multifactorial – chronic stressors
Frequently a dietary problem
Frequently an unrecognized environmental issue
Frequently an oxido-reductive imbalance
Frequently an unrcognized or poorly treated thyroid problem
Frequently an unrecognized “stealth organism”
Frequently a sex hormone or adrenal hormone problem
Always an autonomic nervous system problem

To learn more about MD Wellness contact us today by giving us a call at (732) 268-7663, emailing us at [email protected] or by requesting an appointment online.

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