Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Mary Gremp, Child Health NP Student

What is POTS? Increase in HR greater than 30 beats upon standing and sustained standing Dysfunction with the autonomic nervous system appears that pt has venous pooling in lower limbs and veins don’t contract appropriately so blood doesn’t return to organs correctly Increase in HR greater than 30 beats upon standing and sustained standing Dysfunction with the autonomic nervous system appears that pt has venous pooling in lower limbs and veins don’t contract appropriately so blood doesn’t return to organs correctly

So… PNP’s are primary care givers and need to help their patients cope with their illness POTS is a chronic illness with many symptoms that impact the quality of life for the patient and family PNP’s are primary care givers and need to help their patients cope with their illness POTS is a chronic illness with many symptoms that impact the quality of life for the patient and family

Purpose To educate and discover what POTS is and how to help patients cope with this chronic illness as a PNP

Researched Reviewed articles and studies from medical and nursing journals (13) Researched medical websites (4) Reviewed articles and studies from medical and nursing journals (13) Researched medical websites (4)

Who does it effect? Generally adolescents following a serious viral illness like mononucleosis that has high fevers Typically when adolescents are experience rapid growth Generally adolescents following a serious viral illness like mononucleosis that has high fevers Typically when adolescents are experience rapid growth

What are the symptoms? Dizziness with standing and prolonged standing Most problematic chronic fatigue Headache, syncope, fainting, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, abdominal cramps, weakness, accrocyanaosis, sweating, chest pain, edema and pallor Dizziness with standing and prolonged standing Most problematic chronic fatigue Headache, syncope, fainting, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, abdominal cramps, weakness, accrocyanaosis, sweating, chest pain, edema and pallor

How Long? Typically grow out of when finish growing Adults who develop POTS may have for entire life and is usually triggered by different effect Typically grow out of when finish growing Adults who develop POTS may have for entire life and is usually triggered by different effect

What helps? Increase the fluid intake-the more fluid there is circulating the greater the chance some getting to head Increase the salt intake- allows for the body to hold on to more fluid Exercise-increases the capillary bloods and strengthens the “floppy” vessels Routine that allows for rest and decrease stress Venous stockings Increase the fluid intake-the more fluid there is circulating the greater the chance some getting to head Increase the salt intake- allows for the body to hold on to more fluid Exercise-increases the capillary bloods and strengthens the “floppy” vessels Routine that allows for rest and decrease stress Venous stockings

Medications? Medications that enable the body to hold on to more fluid The medications help block floppy vessel, tighten vessels, stop relaxation, lighteners, or smoothers Medications that enable the body to hold on to more fluid The medications help block floppy vessel, tighten vessels, stop relaxation, lighteners, or smoothers

Names of Medications Fludrocortisones- holds on to Na which expands the plasma and it also causes peripheral vasoconstrictor Midodrine- arterial and venous constrictor NSAIDS- increase peripheral vascular resistance Levophed- helps autonomic dysfunction Propranolol- helps peripheral vascular vasoconstriction Fludrocortisones- holds on to Na which expands the plasma and it also causes peripheral vasoconstrictor Midodrine- arterial and venous constrictor NSAIDS- increase peripheral vascular resistance Levophed- helps autonomic dysfunction Propranolol- helps peripheral vascular vasoconstriction

Coping Acknowledge that symptoms comprise a real disease and not a mental disorder Review what the family and patient are doing to help the symptoms Set short term and long term goals with patient Develop a plan to help patient reach short term goals Acknowledge that symptoms comprise a real disease and not a mental disorder Review what the family and patient are doing to help the symptoms Set short term and long term goals with patient Develop a plan to help patient reach short term goals

Chronic Illness Coping Promote building self-esteem Set limits Provide support and routine Encourage family to exercise with child and eat healthy Encourage counseling to allow the child to learn how to express emotions in healthy manner Provide a counselors phone number Promote building self-esteem Set limits Provide support and routine Encourage family to exercise with child and eat healthy Encourage counseling to allow the child to learn how to express emotions in healthy manner Provide a counselors phone number

Exercise Exercise helps to the vessels to constrict quicker which decreases the pooling Exercise releases endorphins which help patient to stay happy It is a rolling ball on a narrow tract Start slow and easy Exercise helps to the vessels to constrict quicker which decreases the pooling Exercise releases endorphins which help patient to stay happy It is a rolling ball on a narrow tract Start slow and easy

Assurance Remind family that child generally grows out of it Remind the POTS patient with continued effort one can attend school and participate in sports teams Educate parents that patient can physically participate if heart slowly trained Remind family that child generally grows out of it Remind the POTS patient with continued effort one can attend school and participate in sports teams Educate parents that patient can physically participate if heart slowly trained

Hand washing Review the importance of infection control so that child’s symptoms are not complicated by other illness symptoms

School IEP may help patient to have longer timeframe to complete assignments and need to do alternative activities that avoid prolonged standing and frequent position changes Alternative school that start in the afternoon when patients generally wake up and feel the best IEP may help patient to have longer timeframe to complete assignments and need to do alternative activities that avoid prolonged standing and frequent position changes Alternative school that start in the afternoon when patients generally wake up and feel the best

What do you think? Home school? SSRIs? Studies comprised of 7 to 15 patients? Traveling for POTS expert or TLC? Home school? SSRIs? Studies comprised of 7 to 15 patients? Traveling for POTS expert or TLC?

References Brooks, J. & Francis, L. (2006) Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome dental treatment considerations. Journal of American Dental Association, 137, (4), Reviewed October 31, 2008 from xacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=releva nce&volume=137&firstpage=488&resourcetype=HWCIT Coping with Chronic Illness. (2008). Medline Plus website. Reviewed November 2, 2008 from Chronic illness. American Psychological Association website. Reviewed November 2, Dysautonomia information network. (2008) Reviewed October 23, 2008 from Brooks, J. & Francis, L. (2006) Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome dental treatment considerations. Journal of American Dental Association, 137, (4), Reviewed October 31, 2008 from xacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=releva nce&volume=137&firstpage=488&resourcetype=HWCIT Coping with Chronic Illness. (2008). Medline Plus website. Reviewed November 2, 2008 from Chronic illness. American Psychological Association website. Reviewed November 2, Dysautonomia information network. (2008) Reviewed October 23, 2008 from

References Continued de Riddler, D., Geenen, R., Kuijar, R., & Middendrop, H. (2008). Psychological adjustment to chronic disease. The Lancet, 372 (9634), Reviewed November 2, &_user=709070&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_user id=709070&md5=cb91e6314c0cc7fc83b3cbbc46f481fa Fisher, P. (2008) podcast Mayo Clinic Reviewed October 23, 2008 from Goldstein, N. (2008). Titrating guidance: a model to guide to physicians in assisting clients and family members who are facing complex decisions. Archives of Internal Medicine, 168 (16), Reviewed November 2, assn.org.proxy.library.vcu.edu/cgi/content/full/168/16/1733 Maintaining and building self-esteem in children with special healthcare needs. (2000) American Academy of Pediatrics Masuki, S., Eisenach, J., Johnson, C., Dietz, N., Benrud-Larson, L., Schrage, W., Curry,T., Sandroni, P., Low, P., & Joyner, M. (2006). Excessive heart rate response to orthostatic stress in postural tachycardia syndrome is not caused by anxiety. Journal of Applied Physiology, 102, Reviewed October 31, 2008 from de Riddler, D., Geenen, R., Kuijar, R., & Middendrop, H. (2008). Psychological adjustment to chronic disease. The Lancet, 372 (9634), Reviewed November 2, &_user=709070&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_user id=709070&md5=cb91e6314c0cc7fc83b3cbbc46f481fa Fisher, P. (2008) podcast Mayo Clinic Reviewed October 23, 2008 from Goldstein, N. (2008). Titrating guidance: a model to guide to physicians in assisting clients and family members who are facing complex decisions. Archives of Internal Medicine, 168 (16), Reviewed November 2, assn.org.proxy.library.vcu.edu/cgi/content/full/168/16/1733 Maintaining and building self-esteem in children with special healthcare needs. (2000) American Academy of Pediatrics Masuki, S., Eisenach, J., Johnson, C., Dietz, N., Benrud-Larson, L., Schrage, W., Curry,T., Sandroni, P., Low, P., & Joyner, M. (2006). Excessive heart rate response to orthostatic stress in postural tachycardia syndrome is not caused by anxiety. Journal of Applied Physiology, 102, Reviewed October 31, 2008 from

References Continued Medow, M., Tanjea, I., & Terilli, C. Center for Hypotension. Reviewed October 22, 2008 from NINDS (2007) Reviewed October 23, 2008 from Orthostatic hypotension. (2005). Merck website. Reviewed October 31, 2008 from 1&_cdi=4884&_user=10&_orig=search&_coverDate=07%2F31%2F1996&_sk= &view=c&wch p=dGLbVzb-zSkzS&md5=0ee565e164d8f9aa9a0615a90877b92b&ie=/sdarticle.pdf Perkel, D. (2005). How to care for a seriously ill child. Kids Health Website. Reviewed November 2, 2008 from Stewart, J.,Sutton, R., Wolk, M. & Wood, D. (1996) Tilt table testing for assessing syncope. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 28, (1), Reviewed October 31, 2008 from Tolan Jr., R. (2008). Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. WebMd. Reviewed October 31,2008 from Medow, M., Tanjea, I., & Terilli, C. Center for Hypotension. Reviewed October 22, 2008 from NINDS (2007) Reviewed October 23, 2008 from Orthostatic hypotension. (2005). Merck website. Reviewed October 31, 2008 from 1&_cdi=4884&_user=10&_orig=search&_coverDate=07%2F31%2F1996&_sk= &view=c&wch p=dGLbVzb-zSkzS&md5=0ee565e164d8f9aa9a0615a90877b92b&ie=/sdarticle.pdf Perkel, D. (2005). How to care for a seriously ill child. Kids Health Website. Reviewed November 2, 2008 from Stewart, J.,Sutton, R., Wolk, M. & Wood, D. (1996) Tilt table testing for assessing syncope. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 28, (1), Reviewed October 31, 2008 from Tolan Jr., R. (2008). Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. WebMd. Reviewed October 31,2008 from