As a mom, watching your teen battle unexplained symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, fainting spells, and constant anxiety can be both heartbreaking and exhausting. Every time they stand up or even shift positions, your heart races as you wonder if they’ll feel faint or need to sit back down. If your child has recently been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), you’re probably overwhelmed with questions and desperate for answers about what’s really causing these symptoms.
POTS isn’t as rare as it might seem—affecting about 1 in 100 teens—and girls are 2-3 times more likely to experience it. You may have heard that genetics could be the culprit, or maybe no one has given you a clear explanation at all. But here in Olathe, KS, we’re learning more about POTS every day, and there’s a deeper story that every mom needs to know to help her child thrive.
You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Let’s uncover the tools and strategies to support your teen’s health and well-being, right here in our community.
Is it Genetic? Understanding the Root Cause
The key to understanding POTS lies in understanding how your child’s nervous system functions. While genetic factors may play a role, the primary trigger for POTS symptoms is often related to nervous system dysfunction and dysregulation, particularly within the autonomic nervous system.
The Vagus Nerve – What role does it play?
At the heart of this condition is the vagus nerve – a crucial component of your child’s autonomic nervous system that:
- Controls heart rate and blood pressure
- Regulates breathing patterns
- Maintains overall body balance
- Influences focus and concentration
Teenagers in today’s world are living in perhaps the most stressful era and toxic times we’ve ever seen. This constant stress assaults our children’s nervous system and leaves it stuck in a state of sympathetic fight-or-flight stress mode, which leads to vagus nerve dysfunction. Stress could be from any of the 3T’s (Trauma, Toxins, or Thoughts) such as notifications from phones and iPads, school or friend stress, and trauma from falls, sports or accidents.
Dysautonomia – A big word that means everything
Chronic subluxation and nervous system dysregulation can lead to a condition called dysautonomia – an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system where:
- The “fight or flight” response becomes overactive
- The calming, regulatory functions become suppressed
- Multiple body systems are affected simultaneously
Why Traditional Medical Tests May Miss the Root Cause
Many parents become, understandably, frustrated when standard medical tests fail to provide answers. Traditional tests usually don’t measure nervous system regulation. The focus is typically on individual symptoms rather than underlying systemic dysfunction. Subtle neurological imbalances can be difficult to detect with standard testing.
There Is Hope: What Parents Can Do
Understanding that POTS is primarily a nervous system condition opens up new avenues for support and treatment. Modern diagnostic approaches can now:
- Measure nervous system regulation
- Track heart rate variability
- Identify specific areas of neurological interference
- Monitor improvements over time
Next Steps for Parents
- Recognize the Signs: Watch for patterns in your child’s symptoms, particularly when changing positions or during periods of stress.
- Consider a Comprehensive Evaluation: Look for healthcare providers who understand the neurological aspects of POTS and use advanced diagnostic tools to measure nervous system function.
- Address Physical Tension: Pay attention to signs of stress and tension in your child’s upper neck, lower neck, shoulders, and mid-back.
- Support Overall Nervous System Health: Work with healthcare providers who can help address the underlying nervous system dysfunction rather than just managing symptoms.
What’s Next?
At 3T Family Chiropractic in Olathe, Kansas, we use advanced technology tools like our INSiGHT Scans to identify specific areas of neurological interference that may be contributing to your child’s symptoms. Our scans can actually measure and find dysregulation, especially our NeuroThermal and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) tests, providing concrete evidence of autonomic nervous system function and tracking improvement over time.
We want to be able to customize a care plan exactly for the patient’s nervous system so we can be specific and thorough with our approach to nervous system healing.
Please don’t wait to reach out to us today to schedule a consultation for your child. If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find a PX Doc near you.
While POTS can be challenging, understanding its true nature as a nervous system condition provides hope and direction. With proper support and care focused on nervous system regulation, many teens see significant improvements in their symptoms and quality of life.
You’re not alone in this journey. Many families are navigating similar challenges, and with the right understanding and support, your child can work toward better health and well-being. Looking and addressing the underlying cause is the key that may be missing.