POTS Symptoms And Hydration
Some of the symptoms experienced by people with POTS can be similar to those experienced by people who are dehydrated, like rapid heartbeats (tachycardia), changes in blood pressure, and fatigue.
Making sure that people with POTS stay hydrated and have enough blood volume is really important, especially when trying to improve and relieve symptoms. It's not the only thing that can help though, since POTS affects a lot of different parts of the body and can be pretty complex. However, it's still something that has helped a lot of people with POTS, giving them some relief from their symptoms.
The research supports the importance and benefits of staying hydrated and getting enough salt, as healthcare providers work to help people with orthostatic intolerance improve their quality of life.
For some people, this might mean taking salt supplements along with drinking fluids by mouth, while others might need intravenous fluids or other methods to replenish their fluids (Snapper et al., 2022). Additionally, some people might find that using oral rehydration solutions can help manage their symptoms in the short term (Medow et al., 2019).
Check out our other Hydration and Sodium sections for more information.
Contributions made by: Katie Mednick, Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Expert
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Sources:
Medow, M. S., Guber, K., Chokshi, S., Terilli, C., Visintainer, P., & Stewart, J. M. (2019). The benefits of oral rehydration on orthostatic intolerance in children with postural tachycardia syndrome. The Journal of Pediatrics, 214, 96–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.07.041
Snapper, H., & Cheshire, W. P. (2022). Oral and intravenous hydration in the treatment of orthostatic hypotension and postural tachycardia syndrome. Autonomic Neuroscience, 238, 102951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2022.102951