Why Is My Heart Racing? Understanding POTS, the Vagus Nerve, and Your Spine
If you’ve been searching for answers to chronic dizziness, a racing heart, or “brain fog” in Omaha, you may have come across the term POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).
POTS isn’t very well understood or well known.
At Green Chiropractic, we see many patients who have been through the ringer—specialists, heart monitors, and blood tests—only to be told their “heart is fine,” even though they feel anything but fine. The truth is, POTS is often not a heart problem; it’s a communication problem within your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).
To understand how to find relief, we have to look at the “master controller” of your body: the Vagus Nerve, and its neighbor, the Upper Cervical Spine.
The Vagus Nerve: Your Body’s Natural Brake Pedal
The Vagus Nerve is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system. It acts as the “brake pedal” for your heart, telling it to slow down and stay calm. In patients with POTS, that brake pedal isn’t responding correctly. When you stand up, your heart “floors the gas” (tachycardia) because the Vagus Nerve isn’t sending the signal to stabilize.
But why is the Vagus Nerve malfunctioning? The answer often lies just millimeters away in the upper neck. The Vagus Nerve exits the skull right next to the Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2) vertebrae. When these vertebrae are misaligned, they can create mechanical “crosstalk” or irritation, essentially short-circuiting the signals between your brain and your heart.
The “Forward Head Posture” Connection
In today’s world of “Tech Neck,” we are seeing a massive spike in Forward Head Posture (FHP). For every inch your head shifts forward, it adds an extra 10 pounds of weight to your cervical spine.
This structural shift doesn’t just cause neck pain; it creates a “stretch” on the nerves and blood vessels in the neck.
- Ligament Strain: Constant forward leaning stretches the ligaments that protect your brainstem.
- Nerve Compression: This tension can physically compress the Vagus Nerve, inhibiting its ability to regulate your heart rate.
- Blood Flow: FHP can even impede the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain, contributing to that “spaced out” feeling known as brain fog.
Why Omaha Chooses Green Chiropractic for POTS Support
Most traditional treatments for POTS focus on managing symptoms with salt, compression socks, or medication. While these can be helpful tools, they don’t address the structural cause of why your nervous system is stuck in “fight or flight.”
At Green Chiropractic, we take a different approach:
- Precision Upper Cervical Care: We use gentle, specific adjustments to the C1 and C2 vertebrae to remove interference from the Vagus Nerve.
- Postural Restoration: We help you correct Forward Head Posture to take the physical “tension” off your nervous system.
- Neurological Focus: We don’t just “crack backs.” We analyze how your spine is affecting your brain’s ability to communicate with your body.
Ready to Regain Your Balance?
If you’re tired of feeling dizzy every time you stand up, it’s time to look at the source. You don’t have to manage POTS alone in Omaha—let’s see if a structural misalignment is the missing piece of your puzzle.
Click here to schedule your consultation at Green Chiropractic today.
Man with POTS