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After almost a decade of protecting it beneath wraps, Olympic medalist Katie Ledecky has shared her POTS analysis with the world.
The athlete, who has gained 14 Olympic medals for swimming, probably the most of any feminine Olympian, stated she has POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).
In “Just Add Water: My Swimming Life,” Ledecky’s new memoir, which was revealed by Simon & Schuster in June, she wrote that the illness could cause “dizziness, fainting and exhaustion.”
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Here’s extra.
What is POTS?
POTS is a disturbance within the autonomic nervous system, which controls a number of the regular regulatory features of the physique, based on Dr. Blair Grubb, a heart specialist and professional on POTS at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences.
Katie Ledecky competes within the swimming 400m Freestyle Women Heats throughout the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024. After almost a decade of protecting it beneath wraps, Ledecky has shared her POTS analysis with the world. (Getty Images)
“When the person stands, gravity will try to displace downward roughly 20% to 30% of the body’s blood volume,” he informed Fox News Digital.
In response to this displacement, the mind tells the coronary heart to beat quicker and extra forcibly, and tells the blood vessels within the decrease half of the physique to tighten, or constrict, to 3 instances the extent they had been beforehand, the physician stated.
“This allows for accumulation of much more blood than normal in the lower half of the body,” Grubb stated.
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As extra blood is displaced downward, the mind will get much less and fewer oxygen.
Ledecky mentioned this impact in her e book. She wrote, “I pool blood in the vessels below my heart when I stand. My body then releases extra norepinephrine or epinephrine, which adds additional stressors on my heart, making it beat faster.”
What causes the situation?
Individuals with a genetic trait known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (also called joint hypermobility syndrome) look like extra inclined to growing this situation, based on Grubb.
“However, POTS is frequently triggered by a viral infection, such as Epstein-Barr virus or COVID-19,” he informed Fox News Digital.
Katie Ledecky reacts after competing within the swimming 400m Freestyle Women Heats throughout the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024. (Getty Images)
One of those infections can set off an autoimmune response, by which the physique’s immune system assaults itself and produces antibodies that intrude with the flexibility of blood vessels to tighten, the physician stated.
POTS also can happen by itself, with none apparent triggers.
Symptoms of POTS
A POTS affected person’s signs will rely on how a lot blood is displaced downward, consultants say.
“It can vary from mild cases where your heart races and you get a little dizzy upon standing, all the way to presenting as a disabling condition, disallowing patients from being upright,” Valerie Iovine, PT, a bodily therapist at Strive Physical Therapy in Philadelphia, informed Fox News Digital.
“It can also change over the course of life, but can also change day to day or week to week.”
“When the person stands, gravity will try to displace downward roughly 20% to 30% of the body’s blood volume.”
The dysfunction’s title — postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome — actually interprets to “when you become more upright, your heart races,” famous Iovine, who treats many sufferers with POTS and likewise has the dysfunction herself.
“The heart will flutter in an attempt to properly oxygenate the brain,” she stated.
Symptoms can embody “disabling fatigue, exercise intolerance, heat intolerance, palpitations, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting and brain fog,” a physician stated. (iStock)
“But in addition to the dizziness, headaches, passing out or near passing out, many with this disorder don’t realize that it can account for other issues, like temperature dysregulation, blood pressure dysregulation and GI dysfunction.”
In extra excessive circumstances, sufferers might have problem pondering, concentrating or remembering — generally known as mind fog, based on Grubb.
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People may expertise blurred imaginative and prescient, black spots of their visible discipline, tunnel imaginative and prescient and headache.
“Even greater displacement of blood can cause the individual to lose consciousness,” Grubb stated.
Treatments and therapies
The main therapy for POTS is rising water and salt consumption, Grubb stated.
“It is also important to recondition the patient through exercise, building the strength in their lower extremities,” he stated.
Some medicines, equivalent to midodrine and droxidopa — often called vasoconstrictors — can work to tighten blood vessels and improve blood return to the center, based on Grubb.
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Still different medicine, equivalent to fludrocortisone or desmopressin, work by rising the amount of fluids accessible for the center to pump.
“Medications such as pyridostigmine facilitate nerve transmission and help the nervous system work more effectively to maintain normal vascular function,” Grubb added.
The illness can typically trigger a flu-like feeling after train, one thing known as post-exertional malaise/post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PEM/PESE). (iStock)
Many typically use the time period “exercise intolerance” when describing signs of POTS, however Iovine stated that “poorly prescribed and dosed exercise” is the issue.
“Exercise is the best management for POTS,” she stated.
“I would argue that for these patients, movement is medicine.”
In her e book, Ledecky famous that swimming could be an efficient therapy for POTS, writing that “reclined aerobic exercise, such as swimming, and strengthening your core, can provide relief.”
“For these patients, movement is medicine.”
Seeking care from a heart specialist and a bodily therapist is important, based on Iovine.
The heart specialist might help to get very important indicators like coronary heart charge and blood stress beneath management, she stated, whereas a educated bodily therapist might help to handle signs and improve upright tolerance.
“Things like proper hydration, extra electrolytes, and being able to keep cool can also help manage symptoms,” an professional suggested. (iStock)
“Things like proper hydration, extra electrolytes, and being able to keep cool can also help manage symptoms,” Iovine suggested.
“The heat will make the blood vessels expand, making it harder to get the blood up the head against gravity,” she stated.
How POTS impacts athletes
“POTS can be a challenge for anyone — from people with complicated pre-existing conditions, all the way to the top athletes, like Katie Ledecky,” Iovine informed Fox News Digital.
The illness can typically trigger a flu-like feeling after train, one thing known as post-exertional malaise/post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PEM/PESE).
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“This is when the autonomic nervous system can have a reflexive reaction to stress or exercise, either making existing symptoms worse or creating a new host of issues in people with POTS,” Iovine stated.
“This can pose an issue in the sense of rigorous exercise for an Olympic athlete — or in other cases, exertion may be as simple as getting out of bed and walking to the kitchen.”
While there is no such thing as a treatment for POTS, many sufferers are capable of handle their signs and return to their every day actions with the assistance of a care staff. (iStock)
POTS causes a “dynamic disability,” Iovine famous.
“One day, it may allow you to swim like an Olympic athlete, and other days, [it will] have you stuck in bed or even in a wheelchair.”
POTS is especially difficult in athletic actions that contain frequent “start and stop” actions, equivalent to basketball, volleyball, soccer and discipline hockey, added Grubb.
‘A real illness’
Both consultants emphasised that POTS is a “real illness.”
“People who were previously quite healthy develop severe limitations and disabilities,” Grubb stated.
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“They can experience disabling fatigue, exercise intolerance, heat intolerance, palpitations, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting and brain fog.”
Iovine stated that because of the “invisibility” of the illness mixed with the excessive coronary heart charge and variability of displays, it’s typically dismissed as a operate of psychological well being.
“One day, it may allow you to swim like an Olympic athlete, and other days, have you stuck in bed or even in a wheelchair.”
“Patients are often turned away from proper care, made to believe it is all in their heads,” she stated.
“POTS is a very real condition, and the good news is that there are very real management strategies as well,” Iovine went on.
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While there is no such thing as a treatment for POTS, many sufferers are capable of handle their signs and return to their every day actions.
Added Iovine, “Build up your care team and your confidence to advocate for your health and keep to your regimented routines for management.”
