Certain vascular and connective tissue disorders may occur simultaneously. When POTS, May-Thurner Syndrome, PCS, or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome develops along with another condition, doctors must coordinate treatment to address the underlying causes of all associated conditions to prevent a worsening of symptoms and improve patient outcomes in pain relief and quality of life.
Sometimes, medical conditions intersect in ways that make symptoms more severe and harder to treat. This is especially true for vascular and connective tissue disorders, which often overlap. Conditions like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS), Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) (or pelvic venous insufficiency), and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) frequently occur together, interacting symbiotically to worsen both the symptoms and the conditions themselves. However, treating the underlying causes of one may help improve any other coexisting conditions.
At CardioVascular Health Clinic, our team recognizes how these conditions can coincide or even be linked and they work together to address multiple conditions at the same time. Our vascular and cardiovascular specialists deliver national-caliber expertise in diagnosing and treating a range of vascular conditions, even for rare or underdiagnosed ones. By combining an integrative, patient-centric approach to care with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, a multidisciplinary team of experts, and decades of experience, our team provides comprehensive, personalized treatment plans that can address multiple conditions at once and lead to significant improvements in symptoms and overall quality of life.
POTS is a condition that affects how the body controls your heart rate when standing up. Normally, the body adjusts your blood pressure and heart rate to keep both steady and prevent spikes when you move from sitting to standing. With POTS, your body struggles to regulate your heart rate properly when you stand up, which can cause a sudden increase in how fast your heart is beating. This can leave you feeling tired and drained, making even everyday tasks feel overwhelming.
POTS is often linked to nervous system issues and is more common in people with connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Doctors and researchers are also exploring a possible link between POTS and PCS.
POTS can be particularly difficult to diagnose properly or accurately because many of the symptoms overlap with other conditions. However, some of the most common symptoms include:
While it is unclear exactly what causes POTS, there are significant links between the condition and:
There is currently no cure for POTS, but it is a manageable condition, via methods such as:
May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS) occurs when the right iliac artery crosses the left iliac vein and presses against it. This compression restricts proper blood flow and increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a dangerous blood clot. MTS often goes undiagnosed until a blood clot forms, but early detection and treatment can prevent complications. I
MTS is more common in women and people with connective tissue disorders like EDS.
Symptoms of May-Thurner Syndrome may include:
There is no clear connection to the development of May-Thurner Syndrome. However, certain factors can increase your likelihood of developing the condition, such as:
Diagnosing and treating May-Thurner Syndrome typically requires a cardiovascular specialist. Treatment often focuses on relieving pressure on the iliac vein, improving blood flow, preventing blood clot formation, and long-term management, and can include:
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS), or pelvic venous insufficiency, is a long-term condition where varicose veins develop in the pelvic area and don’t drain blood properly from the area. These veins become enlarged, leading to a dull, aching pain that often gets worse when you're standing or active.
PCS is frequently linked to vein compression disorders like May-Thurner Syndrome and it tends to affect women more commonly, especially those with connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
The symptoms of POTS are primarily the result of inflammation and an inefficient return of blood to the heart, and can include:
Treatment of PCS focuses on improving blood flow in the pelvic area by relieving strain on the circulatory system via methods like:
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) refers to a group of inherited disorders that weaken connective tissues that support the skin, joints, and blood vessels. Those with EDS often have overly flexible joints, delicate skin that bruises easily, and issues with blood vessels functioning properly.
EDS can make other conditions, like POTS, May-Thurner Syndrome, and PCS, more likely because of the body’s weakened connective tissues.
Treating EDS primarily focuses on preventing complications; managing pain and skeletal and joint difficulties; and reducing stress to the aorta and other arteries by lowering blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels. Treatment of EDS can include:
When dealing with POTS, May-Thurner Syndrome, PCS, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, it becomes clear that, often, these conditions don’t just coexist — they are interconnected in symbiotic ways that can make each other worse. Recognizing how these conditions overlap and intersect is crucial for accurate diagnoses and effective treatment.
There is typically a correlation between one condition and another (or more), so if you have one, you’re more likely to either have or develop another.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, for instance, weakens connective tissues, making veins more likely to compress, as seen in May-Thurner Syndrome and PCS. When blood flow is restricted because of these compressions, it can worsen the symptoms of POTS, like dizziness and fatigue when standing. On top of that, the chronic pain and exhaustion from EDS can heighten the discomfort caused by PCS and MTS. This interconnected nature often creates a cycle where each condition aggravates the others, making everyday life more challenging.
Treating just the symptoms of one condition–instead of the root cause–might help, but it often doesn’t provide complete relief. For example, managing POTS by regulating your heart rate can help with some symptoms. However, if poor blood flow from MTS or PCS isn’t addressed, symptoms may linger. Likewise, if EDS is causing joint instability and weak veins, treatments that don’t account for this underlying issue may fall short.
Treatment plans for these conditions often overlap, so addressing the underlying causes of one may have a ripple effect and improve a related condition.
For example, placing a stent to correct May-Thurner Syndrome can enhance blood flow and reduce the pelvic pain associated with PCS. Similarly, physical therapy to stabilize joints for EDS can lessen the strain on veins, which might ease some POTS symptoms. Treating POTS by improving blood circulation with hydration and compression stockings can also benefit overall vascular health, making symptoms of MTS and PCS less severe.
Living with conditions like POTS, May-Thurner Syndrome, PCS, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome can be challenging, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. At CardioVascular Health Clinic, our team focuses on understanding how these conditions are connected and treating them with a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to care. By tackling multiple issues at once, we aim to improve your overall well-being and help you find lasting relief.
The specialists at CardioVascular Health Clinic have developed a highly collaborative methodology to diagnosing and treating conditions like POTS, MTS, PCS, and EDS, working together to address all related conditions at the same time to help break the cycle of worsening symptoms so you can feel better and enjoy a better quality of life.If you’re experiencing symptoms that could be related to any of these conditions, schedule an appointment today with CardioVascular Health Clinic and take the first step toward better health.
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