If your teenager has been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), he or she is not alone. According to statistics, 1% of all teenagers will have the condition before they become adults. For some, the condition can be debilitating and lead to many absences from school. In fact, 25% of teens with this condition regularly miss school. One thing that is crucial for patients with this condition is adequate hydration. Here's what you need to know. 

What is POTS? 

POTS is a condition of dysautonomia, which is a failure of the body's autonomic nervous system. This system is what controls bodily functions. In POTS, the failure is in the body's ability to regulate and control blood pressure when the person changes positions, particularly when standing up. Their blood pressure drops and then their heart races to try to raise the blood pressure. During this, the blood doesn't reach the brain and this leads to dizziness and possibly fainting. 

Why is hydration necessary for POTS patients? 

Water consumption helps POTS patients by increasing blood pressure. It does this by raising the autonomic nervous system's fight-or-flight response as it increases production of plasma norepinephrine. This increase in plasma norepinephrine is similar to stimuli such as nicotine and caffeine. According to research, blood pressure can be profoundly increased in POTS patients who drink water. Water also increases the circulating blood volume, which effectively decreases the risk of a severe drop in blood pressure when standing. 

What can be done when it's difficult to drink water? 

Sometimes, however, it can be difficult for someone who is weak and on the verge of fainting to drink enough water to make a significant difference. Unfortunately, for POTS patients, this can easily occur in the mornings after a night of sleep with no water consumption through the night, which is why mornings are so difficult for POTS patients, due to the need to get out of bed and stand up to start their day. 

When it's difficult to drink water due to dizziness and weakness, a trip to a pediatric urgent care for IV saline therapy can help immensely. Rehydration through IV saline therapy can be given on an emergency basis whenever the patient needs prompt hydration and will be covered by most health insurance policies due to the emergent nature of the condition. During the exam, the doctor will check your teenager's heart with an EKG just to make sure there isn't anything else going on. For patients who have a severe case of POTS, IV therapy can be scheduled regularly at an infusion center.  Contact a provider, such as at Emergency Care Dynamics, for more help.