Pots and Lyme Disease [Tachycardia]

POTS and Lyme disease share many symptoms because they affect the autonomic nervous system. Both illnesses are hard to diagnose and treat, and many people with Lyme disease also have POTS. In some cases, Lyme may trigger POTS which can make Lyme symptoms seem worse. So, if you want to know more about Lyme vs POTS, take a look at the vital information below. 

What is Lyme?

Lyme disease is also known as the great imitator because it mimics many neurological and autoimmune conditions - making it hard to diagnose. It’s a vector-borne illness caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, found on ticks, and people become infected from tick bites.

Often early-stage Lyme symptoms go unnoticed or undiagnosed, and if left untreated, it can develop into chronic Lyme. Even after treatment, Lyme can remain in the body - and this is known as Post Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD). 

Early Stage Lyme Symptoms Include:

  • A Distinctive Round Rash - only occurs in approximately 50 percent of cases.

  • Flu-Like Symptoms 

  • Fever

  • Chills

  • Headache

  • Stiff Neck

  • Muscle Aches

  • Fatigue

  • Swollen Lymph Nodes

Chronic Lyme Symptoms Include:

  • Chronic Pain

  • Chronic Fatigue

  • Migraines

  • Brain Fog

  • Facial Paralysis

  • Jaw Pain

  • Tingling and Numbness in Extremities

  • Irregular Sleep Patterns and Night Sweats

  • Hot Flushes

  • Swollen Glands

  • Stiff Neck

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

What is POTS?

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) affects the Autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for automatic body functions, such as blood pressure, respiration and digestion. POTS mainly affects blood pressure and heart rate and causes the heart rate to rise upon standing up. Symptoms are also triggered by standing still for long periods.

There are several types of POTS, and it occurs mostly in women between the ages of 15 and 50. The cause is unclear, but it can be triggered by viral infections, genetic abnormalities, trauma and underlying conditions such as Lupus and Diabetes. 

Doctors use several methods to diagnose the condition, including a tilt table test, biopsies, blood work, and using heart monitoring devices. There is no known cure for POTS, but some medications, holistic treatments such as herbal remedies and lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms.

POTS Symptoms vary between patients and range from mild to debilitating and include:

  • Palpitations

  • Dyspnea

  • Chest discomfort

  • Lightheadedness

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Brain fog

  • Disturbed sleep

  • Nausea

  • Blurred vision

  • Migraine

  • Hypermobility

  • Bowel and bladder irregularities

  • Dizziness when standing up

How Are Lyme and POTS Related?

Lyme disease and POTS share many symptoms and are both difficult to diagnose, and potentially viral infections such as Lyme can trigger POTS. It’s not uncommon for Lyme patients to also suffer from nervous system and immune dysfunctions, and many Lyme patients also have POTS. The problem is that Lyme patients often assume if their symptoms get worse, it’s because of their illness and not because of another underlying cause, such as POTS.

Conclusion

If you have Post Treatment Lyme Disease and your symptoms suddenly worsen, don’t assume it’s Lyme. Potentially, it could be an underlying condition such as POTS making your symptoms worse. It’s not uncommon for Lyme patients to develop more medical conditions and suffer from coinfections. For the best chance of improving your symptoms, you must rule out other illnesses, such as POTS. 

Resources 

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How Lyme Disease can affect the Thyroid [Hashimoto’s & other thyroid conditions]

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Hidden Food Allergies and Lyme Disease