7 Tips to Prepare For a Doctor’s Appointment

tips to prepare for a doctor's appointment

Hi, friends! Today I want to talk about how to prepare for a doctor’s appointment, especially if it’s the first visit with a new doctor. Going to a new doctor can cause anxiety for some (like me!). Whether you’ve waited a long time for your appointment, or you’re worried about…

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How I Got Back to Running With POTS

running with POTS

If you put the words “running” and “POTS” together, it looks and sounds a bit contradictory. They are two words that don’t seem to go together, given what POTS is and the taxing nature of running. But running with POTS, at least in my experience, doesn’t have to be impossible…

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Handling The Holidays With A Chronic Illness

Preparing for the holidays with chronic illness

It’s the holiday season! This really is my favorite time of the year. I hate winter and the cold, but I love the magic of the season and all the fun holiday-themed activities. But this time of year also means that we attend or host gatherings. And sometimes, all these…

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How To Stimulate The Vagus Nerve

Not too long ago, I shared a post about the POTS and vagus nerve connection. I’ve been fascinated with this connection and what I learned from the two books I read on the topic. I’ve been especially intrigued by how to stimulate the vagus nerve.  But if you haven’t read…

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The Vagus Nerve And POTS Connection

Vagus nerve and POTS connection

Did you know that there’s a nerve in the human body that’s connected to POTS? It’s called the vagus nerve. Maybe you’ve heard of it before. The vagus nerve actually regulates many important functions in the body—so many, that it’ll probably surprise you just how much this not-so-little nerve is…

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To The Person Who Got POTS And COVID

To the person who got POTS and COVID

In the last few months, I’ve received a lot of messages and comments from people who developed POTS after having COVID-19. With that being said, I wanted to drop a special post dedicated to these people.  Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional. Everything I share on this…

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What’s POTS? Why Your Heart Races When Standing

why does my heart race when I stand?

I talk so much about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) on this blog, but I haven’t yet dedicated a post to explaining what this syndrome is. Maybe you’ve just received a diagnosis, or maybe you’re asking yourself why your heart races when standing all of a sudden. Or perhaps you…

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My Top 10 POTS Triggers To Avoid

Top POTS triggers

As I begin writing this post on a nearly 90 degrees spring day in Upstate New York, I am reminded again how much the heat and humidity are POTS triggers that worsen my symptoms. My blood feels thick. I’m lethargic. I can see the discoloration in my feet from the…

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9 Tips For Monitoring Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

Self-monitoring blood pressure and heart rate at home

Self-monitoring blood pressure and heart rate is an important factor in monitoring multiple aspects of your health. It’s even more important if you have a chronic illness that affects either of these values or if you already have high or low blood pressure. Even training athletes can benefit from self-monitoring…

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