Â鶹´«Ã½

Coronavirus

    • Doctors warn of possible rise of debilitating nervous-system disorder in patients with long COVID-19

    Share
    TORONTO -

    Doctors are warning of the possibility of a surge in cases of a debilitating nervous-system disorder that may be associated with long COVID.

    Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia, which is an umbrella term used to describe several medical conditions that cause the autonomic nervous system to malfunction. The autonomic nervous system controls the body’s “automatic†functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, kidney function, and temperature control.

    In cases of POTS, specifically, patients’ blood flow is affected and they can experience light-headedness, fainting, chest pains, shortness of breath, and an uncomfortable, rapid increase in heartbeat after standing up.

    Dr. Juan Guzman, who specializes in the condition and is the director of the Syncope and Cardiovascular Autonomic Disorders Unit at Hamilton Health Sciences, said POTS is one of the most common forms of dysautonomia.

    “It is basically an intolerance to standing,†he told CTVNews.ca during a telephone interview on Thursday.

    Even though Guzman said that POTS is considered a “benign†condition because it doesn’t cause any damage in the body, he said it can really impair patients’ quality of life.

    “We need to stand up for everything,†he said.

    Dr. Thao Huynh, a researcher at Montreal’s Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre who is leading a study evaluating the long-term symptoms of 200 patients who had COVID-19, said the condition can be very debilitating. She said that between 15 to 20 per cent of the patients in her study have dysautonomia and that 60 per cent of those patients are unable to return to work because of their symptoms.

    “They’re very young and healthy and active prior to the infection,†she told CTVNews.ca on Thursday.

    In terms of treatment, Huynh said it’s different for everyone, but it can involve fluid intake, salt consumption, wearing compression stockings, exercises, as well as different medications to improve the symptoms.

    , POTS predominantly affects young women who look healthy on the outside and the condition is estimated to impact one out of every 100 teenagers and one million to three million Americans, including adults.

    Because there isn’t a database in Canada, it’s unclear how many Canadians are affected by the disorder.

    ‘IT’S LIKE IT WILL NEVER GO AWAY’

    Kierra Murphy, however, is one of those Canadians, although her case is not linked to COVID-19.

    The 19-year-old University of Winnipeg student was diagnosed with POTS in June after she was given what is called a “tilt table test,†which involves changing a person’s positioning quickly to see how their blood pressure and heart rate respond.

    Before she was tested, Murphy had been experiencing migraines, dizziness, and fainting sensations since 2019. She even had difficulty holding her arms up above her head while trying to braid her hair.

    “They’d get weak and all of the blood would just disappear out of them,†she told CTVNews.ca during a telephone interview on Thursday.

    Murphy said she was able to cope with the symptoms thanks to a medication she was taking for her migraines up until December 2020 when they suddenly seemed to worsen.

    “I was working out like every day. I was doing sports medicine at school so we would go to the gym multiple times a week, and then I'd go on my own as well. I was doing biathlon, so skiing, shooting, running, and shooting. So I was a pretty active,†she said.

    “Then suddenly it was like a switch flip and I couldn’t do that stuff anymore.â€

    Murphy said she doesn’t know how she developed POTS or why her condition deteriorated in the winter.

    “I went from being what I would consider pretty much perfectly healthy minus my migraines to… like there are just days where it’s awful,†she said. "It's like it will never go away."

    Guzman explained that there are many different reasons why POTS may develop in some patients. He said benign causes, such as low blood volume or chronic dehydration, could result in the disorder. The condition could also be caused by deconditioning, which are changes in the body that occur during a period of inactivity, for instance when astronauts return from space, or from immune disorders.

    POTS can also develop in the aftermath of a viral infection, which is why Guzman and Huynh said they have seen some cases of the disorder in patients who had COVID-19.

    COVID-19 AND POTS

    While Huynh said she has seen an increase in POTS cases during the pandemic, she stressed that it’s still too early to determine if the SARS-CoV-2 virus is causing the nervous-system disorder.

    “That's the million dollar question that I don't have the answer to. It's still unclear,†she said. “It may be an autoimmune dysregulation or maybe the virus has done damage temporarily to the central nervous system that controls blood pressure and heart rate…â€

    Guzman agreed that there was an association between COVID-19 infection and POTS, but no proven cause and effect. He said POTS cases may be developing in patients with long-COVID because of hypoxia or the low oxygen that patients with virus experience or due to chronic dehydration or immune disorders associated with the COVID-19.

    “There are different hypotheses, but we have not confirmed anything,†he said.

    That’s why both Guzman and Huynh emphasized the need for more funding from provincial and federal governments to research the long-term effects of COVID-19 and the disease’s relationship with POTS, more specifically.

    “We’re going to need more funding and that's what I'm trying to get because to really know the cause you have to do more expensive testing, which includes MRI of the brain,†Huynh said.

    Guzman is also in the process of researching the connection between POTS and long-COVID by establishing clinics to study patients who had the virus. He said he expects to see more patients develop POTS as the pandemic continues and people experience long-term symptoms of the virus.

    “We are expecting that surge,†he said. “This is coming to us. That's why we are trying to get funding from the government.â€

    For her part, Murphy is also helping to spread awareness about POTS and dysautonomia, more broadly, by volunteering with Dysautonomia International. As October is dysautonomia awareness month, Murphy helped to arrange an event in which the Manitoba legislative building will light up in turquoise/blue on Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. local time.

    “Awareness is sadly non-existent,†she said. “I can sit here all day and think about what life was like before the symptoms and grieve that, but all these people are in the same boat as me and some people have it way worse, some people have it a lot better, and we're all stuck.†

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    Canada

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • Two nephews of the beloved Harry R. Hamilton share stories about his life and legacy.

    • The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province’s police watchdog.

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair’s family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale—Langley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • LIVE

      LIVE

      Thousands of people are gathered in downtown Vancouver to observe the city’s 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • A suspect was arrested for allegedly brandishing a knife outside a Vancouver elementary school on Friday – just as the young students were heading home for the day.

    • The federal government is urging both sides in the British Columbia port dispute to return to the table after mediated talks broke off on Saturday, the first of three scheduled days.

    • Several hundred people gathered outside the Ontario legislature in Toronto to honour veterans and remember those who died fighting for their country.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada’s largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • A man believed to be in his 40s has been rushed to a trauma centre following a stabbing in downtown Toronto.

    • Calgarians will be observing Remembrance Day at a number of different ceremonies across the city, including at the Hangar Flight Museum.

    • July 2025 may seem like it’s in the distant future, but for the St. Luke playground committee time is ticking to fundraise the $340,000 they still need to build a new playground.

    • Getting out to the mountains is even easier with a new bus route from a growing Germany-based service.

    • Crowds gathered in Ottawa and eastern Ontario on Monday to honour the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who gave their lives in service of Canada.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • A 36-year-old Montreal man who was out on bail after allegedly uttering death threats to a woman is now accused of murdering her on the South Shore.

    • With fewer interments and rising maintenance fees, the money for Canada's largest military cemetery will run out in three to four years.

    • Montreal Metro passengers can now flag a safety concern by texting a new phone number launched by the STM.

    • A member of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton participated in the national Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa on Monday.

    • WEATHER

      WEATHER

      This is shaping up to be one of the warmest Remembrance Days in the past decade, at least, for temperatures.

    • Thousands of Maritimers turned out in wet weather Monday to remember those who have served, and continue to serve, in Canada's armed forces for Remembrance Day.

    • A Cape Breton senior recalls her life in German-occupied France, and her mother’s death, during the Second World War.

    • Thousand of people gathered at the Menin Gate in the Ypres, Belgium for Monday’s Remembrance Day Ceremony.

    • Remembrance Day is today, and a number of ceremonies are taking place around the province to honour those who gave their lives to serve our country.

    • A pillar in Canada’s history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • One Manitoba veteran is on a mission to commemorate and honour those who served our country, and not just on Remembrance Day.

    • There will be two ceremonies taking place in Regina for Remembrance Day, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book ‘War Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.’

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • The events will start at 10:15 a.m. with a parade that forms up in front of the Delta London Armories, marches east on Dundas Street and turns north onto Waterloo Street to Dufferin Avenue, the west to the Cenotaph.

    • A team of tornado experts is heading to Fergus, Ont. after a storm ripped through the area Sunday night.

    • A Barrie man is at the centre of an alleged $2.2 million stolen used car scheme.

    • Environment Canada issued a weather alert for Barrie, Collingwood and surrounding areas, alerting residents about the wicked winds that are expected to pick up to 80 kilometres per hour in the afternoon hours.

    • Barrie residents gathered on Monday to honour Canada’s veterans and pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for the country.

    • Representatives of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, military representatives, wreath bearers, government officials, and members of the public will attend the Cenotaph at City Hall Square for the outdoor service.

    • Windsor Paralympic champion, Danielle Campo, has been crowned the number one Inspirational Speaker of the Year for 2024 at the Inspirational Speaking Finals.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year’s host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • It was just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down when the Shaft Bottom Boys of Sudbury broke a world record for 'Deepest Concert Underground.' Now, more than four years later, a Timmins band is looking to take the title.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at Â鶹´«Ã½. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½