If you’re living with PoTS disease syndrome, you already know how tricky it can be to get a diagnosis in the first place. According to PoTS UK, a whopping 85% of sufferers are told the symptoms of this invisible illness are ‘all in their head’ initially. It can then take an average of 5-7 years to get an official diagnosis and the right support for managing your symptoms.
The good news is that if you suspect you might have PoTS, there are steps you can take to ease some of the side effects. One of the simplest places to start is with supportive supplements – something we covered in our recent blog, Our 6 Recommended Supplements for PoTS.
However, it’s not just about choosing the right nutrients to target symptoms. Many people with PoTS also develop nutrient deficiencies, often without realising it. That’s why topping up the nutrients you may be missing is so important – it can help prevent deficiencies from taking hold and triggering a whole new set of symptoms on top of what you’re already managing.
But why does this happen? What are the most common nutrient gaps to watch out for, and why are transdermal patches the most effective way to top up?
Why does PoTS Disease Syndrome put you at higher risk of developing deficiencies?
Because PoTs disease syndrome is a form of dysautonomia, it affects the autonomic nervous system, which manages all the bodily functions going on in the background that we take for granted, like breathing, and your heart beating. It also affects digestion, blood flow to your gut muscles and how well you absorb nutrients. This means you could have an incredibly healthy diet, but your body may struggle to take in all the nutrients from your food properly.
This is called gut perfusion and red flags you might have it include:
- Nausea
- Slow digestion
- Irregular bowel movements
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Bloating
As you can imagine, living with a combination of nausea, poor appetite, and food intolerances can then reduce how much you actually eat – and result in even fewer vitamins and minerals being available for your body to use – sigh.
What are the most common deficiencies if you have PoTS?
Studies show people with PoTS disease syndrome have increased rates of deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron (or low ferritin – where your iron stores are depleted), thiamine (B1) and other micronutrients. For example, one study of adolescents with PoTS found significantly lower B12 levels and another identified that some PoTS patients had B1 deficiency. But what’s encouraging, is that this research also revealed that correcting the deficiencies improved symptoms. And one of the easiest ways to do this is with our handy B12 and Iron patches – ta dah!
So if you suspect you have PoTS, it’s a good idea to ask your GP to run blood tests to check whether your nutrient levels are where they should be; especially if you’re experiencing symptoms that suggest you might be low in essentials like B vitamins or iron.
Signs to look out for include fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, heart palpitations, nerve sensations, low mood and even fainting. These can overlap with PoTS symptoms, which is exactly why it’s worth checking. Understanding whether you’re low in key nutrients means you can address deficiencies early, rather than battling the combined symptoms of both nutrient depletion AND PoTS.
Why are patches the best way to supplement if you have PoTS disease syndrome?
As we've already explained, living with PoTS disease syndrome means that even the healthiest diet might not be enough to prevent common deficiencies such as B12 and iron developing. And because your gut isn’t always functioning as it should, oral supplements won’t always deliver the results you might be hoping for.
Transdermal patches, however, bypass the gut completely, making them an ideal option. Instead of relying on digestion, patches deliver vitamins and minerals through the skin and straight into the bloodstream.
This means:
- No nausea, since you’re not swallowing anything
- No competition with medications, which may irritate the stomach
- A consistent, steady release of nutrients over several hours
As iron and B12 are among the most common nutrients to be running low on with PoTS, a great place to start is with our B12 and Iron Plus patches.
