☆ I AM NOT A DOCTOR NOR AM GIVING YOU MEDICAL ADVICE!


☆Hello! I would like to share 2 topics that are very important to me because I am affected by them.

☆October is P.O.T.s and Breast Cancer awareness month!
The turquoise ribbon is for Pots (all these heart conditions im about to mention fall under Dysautonomia) and the pink ribbon is for breast Cancer!

☆Context: I started having severe panic attacks when I was around 12-13, I mean like, I thought I was gonna die panic attacks. I was rushed to the hospital for the first few (they were far apart) the E.R. said I was okay and sent me home. Then a year or two later I started having more severe panic attacks.. my heart would beat crazy fast, light headed, etc. And because I didn't know what was causing this, I thought something was wrong with my body. By this point we were sent to a cardiologist, hoping to be diagnosed. She said I'm fine and it's all in my head basically.. wow thanks I'm all better. Anyway went to another cardiologist, didn't get diagnosed. Finally went to one and they diagnosed me! I have P.O.Ts and P.V.Cs and I.S.T, but Pots is the main one I have. All three are heart conditions. Thank the good Lord they are non-life-threatening, but boy howdy, can they be debilitating at times! We went to another cardiologist who specializes in that stuff and he's been very helpful, I rarely have a panic attack now and am able to manage my symptoms much better!

☆Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition that causes a rapid increase in heart rate when moving from a lying to a standing position. This can lead to dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, and can make it difficult to exercise. (Surprisingly I've never fainted but I've come close lol)

☆Symptoms-
Different people have different symptoms at times, but here's some of the main symptoms..
--High Heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, fatigue.
Some of my symptoms I experience that can also be caused by pots
--Anxiety (due to increased heart rate), stomach troubles, brain fog, feet and hands sweaty and cold, can get hot flashes and cold flashes (im cold all the time), shortness of breath, restless leg syndrome, loud noises/environment and flashing lights or large crowds can trigger my panic which make the pots worse (me never being able to go to a Twenty-One Pilots concert 😭💀 lol), drinking caffeine/too much sugar= AGGGHH NOOOO PLEASS NOOO AGGHH.. Etc.

☆What causes pots- The autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing, doesn't work properly

☆Anyone can develop POTS, but it mainly affects women between the ages of 15 and 50. The good news about getting it when your younger is that in alot of cases, it goes away into adulthood (like 20+) ! Hopefully that's the case with me, I'm 18.

☆POTS can be triggered by pregnancy, major surgery, trauma, or a viral illness.

☆There's no cure, but lifestyle changes and medications can help manage symptoms. Wearing compression socks, SALT IS A HUGE TREATMENT FOR THIS! My doctor told me to drink electrolytes, wich contains salt, I drink gatorlyte. Also lying down and propping your legs up.

☆POTS is a syndrome, not a disease, and is often misdiagnosed!

I have a couple more heart conditions-

☆Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are extra heartbeats that start in the heart's lower chambers, the ventricles, and disrupt the heart's regular rhythm. PVCs are a common type of irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia.
What they are
Extra heartbeats that start in the ventricles
What they feel like
A skipped beat or flutter in the chest
What they can cause
Disrupt the heart's regular rhythm
When they occur
Before a regular heartbeat
When they are dangerous
They are usually harmless, but they can be a sign of a dangerous heart rhythm if you have a known heart problem
What can increase the risk
High caffeine use, high anxiety levels, too little sleep, abnormal blood levels of electrolytes, smoking, alcohol use, recreational drug use, and side effects from medications

☆Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is a condition that causes an abnormally fast heart rate for no known reason. It's a type of heart rhythm abnormality, or arrhythmia, that can be debilitating.

Here are some things to know about IST:

Symptoms
People with IST may have a resting heart rate of over 100 beats per minute, or their heart rate may increase quickly during light physical activity. They may also experience palpitations.

Causes
IST is thought to be caused by an abnormality in the sinoatrial (SA) node, the area of the heart that triggers the electrical signal that coordinates the heartbeat.

Treatment
Treatment options include dietary modification, medical management, catheter ablation therapy, and surgical ablation of the sinus node. Patients may also be advised to avoid triggers and stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

Impact
IST is not life threatening, but it can cause high levels of anxiety and disability.

Distinction from other conditions
IST is different from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), where postural changes are a key component. With POTS, a patient's heart rate will be normal when they're lying flat, but with IST, their heart rate will still be fast.

All this is kinda complicated and I don't understand it all myself! But if your feeling those symptoms could be pots, or something that's life threatening so be careful! I would like to mention my faith in Christ has really really helped me.

Symptoms of a heart attack! Go to the ER straight away!
Pain areas: in the area between shoulder blades, arm, chest, jaw, left arm, or upper abdomen
Pain types: can be burning in the chest or like a clenched fist in the chest
Pain circumstances: can occur during rest
Whole body: dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, clammy skin, cold sweat, or sweating
Gastrointestinal: indigestion, nausea, or vomiting
Neck: discomfort or tightness
Arm: discomfort or tightness
Also common: anxiety, chest pressure, feeling of impending doom, palpitations, shortness of breath, or shoulder discomfort
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☆My mother was recently diagnosed with breast Cancer....
But the great news is it's stage 0!! We caught it earlier thank God! So she has a 99% chance of survival!

Breast cancer is a disease that occurs when breast cells grow out of control and form tumors. It's the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide.

So do a boob check girls!! Google how to do a proper boob check because there's a certain way to do it, your looking for bumps an lumps.
Did you know men can also get breast Cancer? Yup ! Look it up!


Thanks so much for reading this far on these topics that are important to me! Help me spread awareness ^^
And please share your stories and experiences!

(Yes I grabbed these from Google so I could explain better lol)

Paste in your den for October if you'd like!

P.O.Ts and Breast Cancer awareness thread- https://www.lioden.com/topic.php?id=304429556501