Some people with long Covid could actually be suffering from a common yet little-known ‘dizziness’ condition linked to problems with the nerves.
Lingering symptoms of coronavirus infection hit up to one in 20 patients and can include palpitations, dizzy spells and fainting – which are also key characteristics of postural tachycardia syndrome, or PoTS.
Doctors now say the similarity between the two conditions may mean Covid infection could be triggering PoTS in some cases.
Sian Griffiths, 43, from Anglesea, north Wales, pictured, lived an active lifestyle until she was hit by Covid-19 in May 19. Having been later diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome or PoTS, her treatment involves eating Hula Hoops
But long Covid clinics are not all routinely testing for the syndrome, a leading clinician claims, meaning many patients may be going undiagnosed and missing out on effective treatments.
One approach to tackling PoTS is consuming more salt, which pushing up the blood pressure, helping ease symptoms. Bizarrely, one patient told The Mail on Sunday she’d found some relief by eating Hula Hoops and salted nuts every day.
Dr Lesley Kavi, a former GP who now heads the charity PoTS UK, said: ‘We think the pandemic may have caused an explosion in cases – there are specialist services for PoTS in the NHS, and they are reporting that many of their new referrals are patients who first started having problems after catching Covid.’
In December the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produced guidance that recommended testing long Covid patients for PoTS. However, Dr Kavi added: ‘Patients say this isn’t being done. Instead they find their way to specialist clinics after discovering the condition through support groups on Facebook, and other websites.’
The syndrome is caused by abnormal functioning of the autonomic nervous system, which manages involuntary bodily processes, one of which is the regulation of blood pressure and heart rate when we change posture, such as going from reclining to standing. In this movement, the effect of gravity means there is a slight decrease in the amount of blood flow to the upper body but, in most people, the nervous system quickly recalibrates – blood vessels in the lower limbs narrow and heart rate increases slightly to maintain blood supply to the heart and brain.
In people with PoTS, this doesn’t happen as quickly. As a result, when there is a drop in blood flow to the upper body the heart begins to race in order to compensate, triggering multiple symptoms, including extreme dizziness and even fainting. Sufferers also experience fatigue and ‘brain fog’ – feelings of confusion.
The condition can become debilitating, affecting ability to work or enjoy everyday activities. Some end up relying on a wheelchair.
Patients with PoTS have been told to eat snacks with salt - such as Hula Hoops, pictured
Prior to the pandemic, it is thought about 130,000 people in the UK were affected by PoTS, most commonly women under the age of 50.
It is not fully understood why it affects women more than men.
Patients are also more likely to suffer chronic fatigue syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a collection of inherited syndromes that cause very flexible joints and stretchy and fragile skin. Due to a lack of awareness about PoTS, patients typically suffer with symptoms for seven years before seeking a diagnosis.
Dr Kavi
