A growing number of doctors believe some COVID long haulers are experiencing POTS. A new University of California San Diego study shows heart medication may help.
What is POTS?
POTS is a debilitating disorder that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, fainting, fatigue and light-headedness, and is often triggered by standing up after lying down.
The condition is caused by a reduction in the circulation of blood to the heart and dysfunction in the nervous system response to the body standing up. This results in the heart racing to compensate for the reduced blood supply to the heart and brain.
How a heart failure drug affects POTS
Researchers used a randomised trial to investigate the effect ivabradine (a heart failure drug) has on heart rate, quality of life and plasma norepinephrine levels in 22 patients with hyperadrenergic POTS.
A new clinical trial suggests that a heart failure drug called ivabradine may be an effective treatment for some of the symptoms associated with long COVID.
Existing heart failure drug may be effective in treating postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
In a new study out of University of California San Diego School of Medicine, researchers found a drug used for heart failure improves symptoms associated with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, otherwise known as POTS. This complex, debilitating disorder affects the body s autonomic nervous system, causing a high heart rate, usually when standing.
Writing in the February 15, 2021 online issue of the
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, study authors investigated the drug ivabradine and its effects on heart rate, quality of life and plasma norepinephrine levels in persons living with POTS. Norepinephrine is a stress hormone and neurotransmitter. In blood plasma, it is used as a measure of sympathetic nervous system activity. Trial participants experienced a reduction in heart rate, improvement in their symptoms and overall quality of life one month after taking the