DYSAUTONOMIA / POTS
Finding a doctor who understands dysautonomia can be difficult.
If you are seeking care from a neurologist, cardiologist, or other doctor about possible or known dysautonomia, ask if they treat dysautonomia patients. If they don't, keep looking! It can be helpful to ask for referrals from your local patient support group, or check out the list of doctors from Dysautonomia International.
Learn more about dysautonomia.
Cardiovascular dysautonomias impact heart rate, blood pressure, and many other systems in the body.
They are sometimes debilitating but proper management can significantly improve quality of life. There are several types; postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is probably the most common.
Even though more than 1% of the general population is impacted by cardiovascular dysautonomias, few clinicians are trained to recognize, evaluate and manage these conditions.
See the Autonomic Disorders page for self-advocacy tools.
Patient Resources
Articles, brochures, and other written materials
Easy-to-read POTS article for clinicians, families, and patients
Johns Hopkins Medicine webpage about POTS
Dysautonomia - Describes dysautonomia and its impact on Sjogren's patients.
Could you have POTS? - Explains POTS and its connection to Sjogren's. See this page for information about the standing test.
Managing POTS symptoms - See lifestyle measures at the end of the article. A good start, not comprehensive.
How to exercise safely with POTS and/or severe Sjogren's fatigue
Managing fatigue in POTS - many of the tips are helpful for Sjogren's fatigue
Videos
Sjogren's - The second most common cause of dysautonomia, a presentation by Lauren Stiles, CEO of Dysautonomia International with Q and A by Dr. Sarah Schafer and Jennifer Samghabadi, NP
10 minute intro to POTS, Dr Brent Goodman
Sjogren's and the autonomic nervous system, a presentation by Dr. Brent Goodman
Dysautonomia and gastrointestinal dysfunction, a presentation by Dr. Jay Pasricha
https://vimeo.com/dysautonomia - dysautonomia video library, free monthly lectures
POTS Standing Test Instructions (For Patients And Clinicians)
Click on the PDF icon to download the test.
For Clinicians / To share With Your Clinician
See the Autonomic Disorders page for articles that walk clinicians through evaluation and treatment of POTS and related conditions.
Easy-to-read POTS article for clinicians, families, and patients
Handout for PCPs / GPs from POTS UK. I would add that Sjogren's is by far the most common autoimmune causes of POTS. Scroll to the bottom for the downloadable version.
Good introductory article: Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (190).
Updated 05-25-2023