Gut motility in POTS with Dr. Linda Nguyen

In this episode, Dr. Linda Nguyen, a gastroenterologist at Stanford University, discusses the gastrointestinal (GI) motility issues that often accompany POTS and related conditions such as EDS and ME/CFS. She explains that up to 80% of POTS patients experience GI symptoms like nausea and abdominal pain, which can result from motility disorders in different parts of the GI tract. Dr. Nguyen emphasizes the complexity of these disorders, as patients may have varying motility speeds in the stomach or small intestines. Diagnosis often involves specialized tests like the Smart Pill, which measures transit times through the GI tract. Treatment is symptom-driven, often requiring medication targeting specific GI physiology while considering the autonomic dysfunction characteristic of POTS. Nguyen highlights that the autonomic nervous system, particularly the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic influences, plays a significant role in GI function, and stresses the importance of multidisciplinary care in managing these complex conditions.