Dysautonomia & POTS Treatment in Atlanta

Find Lasting Relief from POTS & Dysautonomia Symptoms with Georgia Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Dysautonomia and POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) are conditions that affect how your autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and other functions your body normally handles without your input.

Georgia Upper Cervical is an upper cervical chiropractor serving the greater Atlanta area, with our office based in Ball Ground, GA. We work with patients managing dysautonomia and POTS as part of a broader care plan, focusing specifically on upper cervical chiropractic care and its relationship to autonomic nervous system function. Below, you’ll find what these conditions are, who they affect, how POTS is diagnosed, and how our care fits alongside your medical treatment.

What Is Dysautonomia?

Dysautonomia is an umbrella term for conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the part of your nervous system that runs the functions you don’t consciously think about: heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature control. When the ANS misfires, those everyday functions become unpredictable, which is why dysautonomia and POTS can look so different from one person to the next.

POTS dysautonomia is the most researched and most commonly diagnosed form, though several other types exist.

Dysautonomia is generally grouped into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary dysautonomia, including POTS, develops on its own with no identifiable underlying cause. Secondary dysautonomia develops as a result of another condition, such as diabetes, an autoimmune disease, Parkinson’s disease, or a prior viral illness, damaging the nerves that regulate the autonomic nervous system.

Types of Dysautonomia

POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

The most common type of dysautonomia, causing an abnormal spike in heart rate when moving from lying or sitting to standing. Affects an estimated 1 to 3 million people in the U.S., roughly 80–85% of them women.

Neurocardiogenic Syncope

Fainting or near-fainting triggered by a sudden drop in blood pressure or heart rate, especially common in adolescents and older adults.

Orthostatic Intolerance

Difficulty tolerating an upright position, causing dizziness, fatigue, or nausea that eases when lying down.

Other Types

Pure autonomic failure, multiple system atrophy, familial dysautonomia, and baroreflex failure, which are rarer and often follow a more progressive course.

What Is POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)?

So what is POTS disease, exactly? POTS causes your heart rate to spike abnormally fast when you move from lying or sitting to standing, as your autonomic nervous system struggles to adjust blood flow against gravity. It’s formally defined by a heart rate increase of at least 30 beats per minute in adults, or 40 in adolescents, within the first 10 minutes of standing, without the drop in blood pressure seen in simple orthostatic hypotension.

Symptoms often flare with heat, prolonged standing, intense exercise, illness, or hormonal changes. Researchers have identified three underlying patterns:

Neuropathic POTS

Reduced nerve supply to blood vessels in the legs, so blood pools in the lower body and the heart compensates by beating faster.

Hyperadrenergic POTS

An overactive fight-or-flight response floods the body with adrenaline on standing, often causing tremors and a sharper heart rate spike.

Hypovolemic POTS

Lower-than-normal blood volume, which is why increasing fluid and sodium intake is a common first-line approach for this subtype.

Dysautonomia vs. POTS: Is Dysautonomia the Same as POTS?

Not quite. Dysautonomia is the broader category, and POTS is one specific, well-studied condition within it. If you’ve been told you have “dysautonomia symptoms,” POTS is one of several possible explanations, and a proper workup is what narrows it down.

Every case of POTS is dysautonomia. Not every case of dysautonomia is POTS.

Ready to Get to the Root of Your Symptoms?

We’re currently accepting new patients at our Ball Ground office.

Who Gets POTS, and Why It Matters

POTS affects an estimated 1 to 3 million people in the U.S., roughly 80–85% of them women. While it’s often associated with teens, nearly half of patients develop their first symptoms after age 18.

Risk factors include family history, autoimmune conditions, connective tissue disorders, and a preceding trigger like illness or pregnancy. Because symptoms are easy to dismiss and hard to pin down, the average time to an accurate diagnosis is nearly 6 years, and many patients are told their symptoms are psychological before POTS is identified.

Teens & Young Women (Ages 15–50)

The group most commonly affected. Some research suggests roughly 1 in 100 teenagers develops POTS before adulthood.

Post-Viral & Post-COVID Patients

A viral illness is one of the most common triggers reported before symptom onset.

Patients with EDS, Autoimmune Conditions, or a Family History

POTS frequently shows up alongside Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

POTS symptoms are frequently mistaken for anxiety, deconditioning, or “just stress.” On average, patients wait nearly 6 years for an accurate diagnosis, and most are told at some point that it’s psychological. An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward real relief.

POTS Symptoms

Recognizing a symptom of POTS disease early can make a real difference in how quickly you get answers. The most frequently reported POTS symptoms fall into three groups:

Cardiovascular

Rapid heartbeat, palpitations, fainting or near-fainting.

Neurological

Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, headaches or migraines, dizziness when standing.

Whole-Body

Persistent fatigue, excessive sweating, sleep disruption, nausea, pale/blotchy skin, numbness or tingling.

How Is POTS Diagnosed?

If you suspect you should be diagnosed with POTS, here’s what the process typically looks like:

Dysautonomia and POTS Treatment Options

When people search for dysautonomia treatment or POTS treatment, they’re usually looking for what actually helps day to day. There’s currently no single cure, but the most effective POTS treatment options combine a few approaches:

Lifestyle Changes

Increased fluid and sodium intake, compression garments, and reclined or gradual exercise programs.

Medications

Beta-blockers or fludrocortisone, prescribed and managed by a physician.

Physical Therapy

Programs focused on autonomic reconditioning.

There’s no single cure for dysautonomia or POTS, but that doesn’t mean symptoms can’t improve. The most effective POTS treatment plans combine more than one approach and involve more than one type of provider.

Can a Chiropractor Help with POTS?

Chiropractic care isn’t a treatment for POTS or dysautonomia on its own, and it isn’t a substitute for the medical management above. What an upper cervical chiropractor can offer is a complementary layer of care.

At Georgia Upper Cervical, we focus on the alignment of the top two vertebrae in your neck, an area close to the brainstem and vagus nerve, both of which play a role in regulating heart rate and autonomic function. It’s the same upper cervical chiropractic approach we use with patients throughout the greater Atlanta area, from our office in Ball Ground.

Upper cervical care doesn’t replace your medical treatment. It’s designed to sit alongside it, as one part of a broader plan.

What to Expect at Georgia Upper Cervical

What Our Patients Are Saying

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a chiropractor help with POTS?

Chiropractic care doesn’t cure POTS, but upper cervical correction may help support the nervous system function connected to autonomic regulation for some patients, typically as a complement to medical treatment rather than a replacement for it.

How is POTS diagnosed?

The standard diagnostic tool is a tilt table test, which tracks heart rate and blood pressure changes when you move from lying down to standing. Bloodwork and autonomic function testing may follow to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.

Is dysautonomia the same as POTS?

No. Dysautonomia is a broad umbrella term for autonomic nervous system disorders, and POTS is the most common specific condition within that category. All POTS is dysautonomia, but not all dysautonomia is POTS.

What causes POTS?

The exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, but POTS involves blood pooling in the lower body on standing, along with elevated stress hormones and reduced blood vessel response. It’s grouped into a few recognized patterns: neuropathic, hyperadrenergic, hypovolemic, and secondary POTS linked to an underlying condition like an autoimmune disorder.

How long does it typically take to get diagnosed with POTS?

Diagnostic delays are common. On average, patients wait nearly 6 years for an accurate diagnosis, and a large share are told their symptoms are psychological before POTS is identified. This is part of why a thorough, POTS-specific workup matters.

Can POTS be cured?

No. There’s currently no cure for POTS, but most patients see meaningful symptom improvement through a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and physical therapy managed by a physician.

Is POTS considered a disability?

It depends on the individual case. The ADA doesn’t list specific conditions as automatic disabilities. POTS may qualify if it substantially limits a major life activity, which is assessed case by case. This isn’t legal advice; anyone considering accommodations or disability benefits should consult an attorney or the relevant agency directly.

Ready to Talk It Through?

If you're navigating a new EDS diagnosis or looking for care that understands hypermobile and fragile connective tissue, our team at Georgia Upper Cervical is here to listen and explain honestly whether upper cervical care fits into your plan.