Cases of Debilitating POTS Condition Rise After COVID-19; New Research Points to Possible Treatment

New research shows vagus nerve stimulation reduces POTS symptoms like rapid heartbeat, suggesting a potential breakthrough in managing the condition.

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For the estimated 1 million to 3 million Americans living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), standing up can trigger a racing heartbeat, lightheadedness, and fainting that’s relieved only by sitting or lying down.

However, a new clinical trial offers a glimmer of hope for those desperate for relief. Researchers may have uncovered a novel, nonpharmaceutical way to manage this debilitating syndrome on the rise nationwide.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccines Contribute to Uptick in POTS

POTS cases notably rose following the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout, both of which are known to impact heart health. Some evidence suggests that 2 percent to 14 percent of COVID-19 survivors are later diagnosed with POTS.

A December 2022 study in Nature Cardiovascular Research found links between COVID-19, mRNA vaccines, and POTS. It revealed COVID-19 patients are five times more likely to develop POTS down the road than those who got POTS after vaccination.

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“Our results identify a possible association between COVID-19 vaccination and incidence of POTS,” the authors wrote. “Notwithstanding the probable low incidence of POTS after COVID-19 vaccination, particularly when compared to SARS-Cov-2 post-infection odds.”

A March 2023 review of studies also suggested a “significant percentage” of COVID-19 patients developed POTS within six to eight months of infection, though the exact mechanisms connecting the two remain unclear.

Nerve Stimulation Benefits POTS Patients

Led by Dr. Stavros Stavrakis of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, a new clinical trial published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology explored whether stimulating the vagus nerve—a key part of the parasympathetic nervous system—could relieve POTS symptoms.

The vagus nerve starts in the brain, passes through the heart and lungs, and ends in the intestines. This nerve controls functions such as digestion, breathing, and heart rate. Targeting it could address a major POTS symptom: rapid heartbeat upon standing.

For the trial, 26 participants were randomly assigned to receive either electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve via an ear clip device or a placebo treatment for one hour daily over two months. Using double-blind methods, neither researchers nor participants knew who received the actual stimulation.

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Those treated with vagus nerve stimulation had a significant 15-beat-per-minute reduction in rapid heartbeat after standing compared to the control group.

The benefits also included a decrease in adrenaline surge and systemic inflammation, both of which are associated with the condition, Dr. Stavrakis told The Epoch Times. There was evidence that it reduced autoantibodies linked to POTS, “at least for some patients,” he noted.

“I would say these results are promising, and we need more studies, obviously, but they are exciting results and we have a mechanistic explanation [of] why it worked, which makes it more valuable,” he said.

Wireless Device May Provide At-home POTS Relief

Currently, POTS is treated with drugs such as midodrine, ivabradine, fludrocortisone, and modafinil. Modafinil is prescribed to treat excessive sleepiness caused by narcolepsy but is sometimes used to treat brain fog associated with POTS. The only nonpharmaceutical therapies for the condition are lifestyle changes such as exercising more and increased fluid and salt intake.

Dr. Stavrakis, a 15-year veteran of POTS research, said he envisions a future where patients seamlessly integrate vagus nerve stimulation into their routine using wireless earbud-like devices. This would deliver treatment without compromising quality of life.

He said that he is working on securing approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the device, but the process may exceed one year. The device is functional, and gathering more data will expedite its release, Dr. Stavrakis said.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Shows Potential Beyond POTS

Dr. Stavrakis previously studied the use of vagus nerve stimulation to treat atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat). He found that it reduced atrial fibrillation by 85 percent compared to untreated patients. His next steps are larger trials for both POTS and atrial fibrillation to better understand the treatment’s efficacy, ideal patients, and long-term benefits.

Additionally, a review of clinical trials shows promise for vagus nerve stimulation in treating treatment-resistant depression. A stimulator implanted on the neck’s left vagus nerve is already approved for epilepsy. It sends mild electric pulses to calm irregular brain activity that causes seizures.