Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) - how cervical instability affects the heart

One of the most common questions we are asked is about POTS and the various scary symptoms related to dysautonomia. In this video, Ross Hauser, MD highlights some of the most common reasons why cervical instability or cervical dysstructure (broken neck syndrome) can be the underlying structural cause of low vagal tone and associated poor heart function, leading to POTS, or dysautonomia. He also interviews a patient and nurse, Linda, about her experience being treated with Prolotherapy for POTS, nausea, and other neck instability symptoms.

To read more on our site about POTS and Dysautonomia, especially in Ehlers-Danlos and hypermobility syndrome cases:

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**DISCLAIMER: As with any medical treatment, no guarantees or claims of cures are made as to the extent of the response to treatment that every person experiences. Every therapy/treatment has patients who experience varying levels of success and failure. Results may not be the same from patient to patient, even with a similar diagnosis, as the body’s internal status is unique to each individual.

[ericamalast]

I had a neck injury and since then I've had panic attacks, VISION that changes from bad to better, tinnitis, vertigo, dizzyness, indigestion, weak stomach acid, constipation, constant bld pressure problems IRREGULAR HEART BEAT. And never new it was a VAGUS NERVE PROBLEM !!!! THANK U MUCH FOR THIS KNOWLEDGE!!! I need PROLOTHERAPY!!!

[melissa]

Thank you so much for revealing exactly what is happening to our bodies - for the first time I am learning the underlying cause to all of these issues and problems. ❤

[guitarchick]

Holy crap. This is putting so many puzzle pieces into place for me. Just diagnose with POTS today! I have constant cervical issues.

[StyleshStorm]

This man might have figured out my problem.

[BOLDFREEDOM]

I was always cracking my neck and I started having these symptoms. I stopped cracking my neck and now they are much better. thanks for this video

[joshs]

Two years ago I had forceful high velocity neck manipulations at the chiropractor. I was unaware of the dangers of forceful neck manipulations at the time. I then suddenly started to have issues with my vision blacking out and getting lightheaded each time I stood up. My heart wouldn't calm down and I would always get tachycardia when standing. I also had sudden bad exercise intolerance and couldn't catch my breath. I then got really sick with Lyme disease and that basically made me disabled with severe illness. I had a bunch of scans done on my neck and it showed that my C2 was rotated out (subluxed) in the neutral position and dynamic imaging showed rotational and vertical instability. The inciting incident to all of this was getting my neck manipulated when I started having issues with my autonomic nervous system. I was pretty much healthy before all of this until I developed POTS. When I got sick with Lyme my body couldn't handle it and I became even more sick and disabled with more symptoms than before. Gastrointestinal issues, vertigo, temperature dysregulation, extreme fatigue, high pressure headaches, trouble breathing, blood pressure issues, feeling flu like, you name it I probably have it. There seems to be a high prominence of neck instability and developing dysautonomia. So many people seem to have it. In my case it seems to be one of the direct causes. I personally believe vagus nerve damage and chronic infections all cause and contribute to developing illnesses like this. I also have a 3D rendered video on my channel of my rotated C2 vertebrae if anyone is interested. This was a great video on how the vagus nerve gets affected by neck instability and I'd thought I would share. I'm just writing my brief story in case anyone else can relate or if it can help anyone pinpoint their issues

[gentlegracexo]

I was born with Arnold Chiari malformation. Very few doctors knew/know what it is so they dismiss it. I have POTS, IIH, bradycardia and tachycardia. My life is vastly affected by temperature disregulation. I cannot process heat. Living in SC my whole life, I finally moved sight unseen to Wyoming. The cold has literally changed my life. I still struggle, but like now, it is 28 degrees outside and I am sleeping with my windows opened and a fan on. The pain relief literally brings thankful tears to my eyes. No one will ever sort out my comorbidities. . Thank God this gentleman understands some of these issues.

[bertinamartinez]

Thank you for your dedication to help the large population with EDS

[tahlaoui]

I was diagnosed with cervical instability at caring medical and I had all these symptoms DR Hauser talking about High blood pressure, tachycardia, palpitations, 4 cardiologists doctors couldn't find out the cause now after my fifth treatment all these symptoms have gone away my bp more stable and heart rates as well all I can say to the team of caring medical you guys are awesome I still have one more treatment hopefully this will be the last. Karim

[BrendaGilbertRN]

The really good doctors are so far away!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[patandemy]

Hi Doctor Ross,
Many POTS are misdiagnosed as panic attacks, especially the female gender. My daughter will be on the floor, with what I call autonomic seizures, not epilepsy. She has forward posture we have been trying to correct for some years. Your information and teaching are priceless. Thank you

[kimlowery]

This makes SO much sense to me!! I’ve had back and neck problems since falling down a flight of stairs at 12yo. I’m now 62. My neck/head veer to the left. I started experiencing breathing issues about 12 years ago and was diagnosed with COPD. After treating the COPD for several years and then having POTS symptoms start, my pulmonologist (a new one) told me he thinks I don’t have COPD, but definitely thought POTS. I also had cardiac ablation in 2016 for severe bijeminy. I had a tilt table test, which was unremarkable, which I think is because I was freezing the entire time and the nurse performing the test was very unpleasant towards me, so I was tense from the get go. After seeing this video this morning I sent my cardiologist a note asking his thoughts on this. I have an appointment later this month, so we’ll see. I’m also going to ask my regular doctor to order X-ray/ CT/MRI of my neck and back. Thank you Dr. Hauser for this very beneficial information!!!

[mycocoaone]

Retired RN with some of these symptoms. History of severe neck trauma. Thank you.

[myri]

This explains all my symptoms of the last 3 years.

[negus]

WOW!!!! You nailed my problem like a pin dot from 100 miles away!! Everything matches perfectly. Doctor to doctor specialist to specialist that just think it’s anxiety or me nitpicking or googling too much. I kept begging them to listen and no one just won’t after almost 4 years of me having no life really and anxious af. I connected different pieces of research I’ve done over the years along with a recent X-ray that found osteophytes(?) and neck straightening, which led me to finally type the right query into YouTube and voila!! Your perfect video. Well fkn done and smooth and professional and confident and clearly very very competent and knowledgeable!!!! I need your help boss!!!!

[wickedwitch]

Thank the lord i found u on here....Ive had heart problems since been badly beaten up many years ago and have much neck injury because of this....Had heart monitors fitted seen heart doctor but they said ive had to live with the heart problems...Now i can go to them and tell them i finally know whats causing it...I have everything u said on here...Truly amazing..Thank u soo much ..God bless u 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[MandaFox]

I have known I've had a straight neck for at least 10 years. I recently started seeing a chiropractor. He pointed it out and said I had some twisted vertabrays. I asked him specifically if my neck could be causing my heart palpitations and chest pain. He said no. I asked him if it contributed to the high pitch constant ringing in my ears. He said no. I also asked him if it could have been the issue I had last year where I went to the ER with what I thought was a mini stroke. He said no. I think these chiropractors need better training. I looked here for exercises I could do to help and ran across this video and a few others. All my chiropractor does is pop my neck and back. I started having worse pain and migraines after I started seeing him. I'm furious right now.

[dianamorris]

My daughter has this really bad. She had a craniocervical fusion. She still has it but it is much better. Prior to the fusion she felt like she was dying. She also has Eagles Syndrome and Chiari which complicates it further. I pray for everyone suffering from this.

[soniabaker]

This helps me, I have stiff neck probs and arythmia! No doc tells you this much, thanks so much.

[bethechangeloveothers]

Great explanation!! Wow!! Suffered with this and diagnosed with it for years but never knew my neck could be related! I have DDD and horrendous cervical spine instability.
Had a fusion below those levels but still issues.
My son has suffered so much with this due to Lyme, co-infections, and the related damage.