Lifestyle program helps women suffering from same heart condition as Katie Ledecky

Dignity Health East Valley’s POTS Strength and Nutrition Program helps women manage underdiagnosed cardiovascular disorder

GILBERT, Ariz. (Aug. 7, 2024) – Dozens of East Valley women are finding ways to manage a common yet underdiagnosed heart condition which affects a few million people in the United States, including Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky, through a Dignity Health East Valley strength and nutrition program.

Fresh off earning four Olympic medals in Paris, Ledecky is opening up about her journey with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). The condition causes a person’s heart rate to rapidly increase when moving from a seated or lying down position to standing up.

“POTS disproportionately impacts women of reproductive years and can cause them to feel dizzy, faint, fatigued and forgetful among other symptoms,” said Rachel Bond, MD, a cardiologist with Dignity Health Medical Group. “POTS can affect patients differently making it challenging to diagnose. By Katie sharing her story, she is encouraging other women to listen to their body and see a doctor if something feels off – no matter how great of shape you may be in.”

At times, some POTS patients require medication to manage their symptoms. However, for most patients, like Ledecky, symptoms caused by POTS can largely be managed through lifestyle changes.

“We launched the POTS Strength and Nutrition program last year as a way to support and empower women in their healing journey,” said Lindsey Robertson, a Dignity Health East Valley community education coordinator. “The weekly program is designed to help women manage their symptoms through exercise, self-care practices and a healthy diet.”

The free program operates on a hybrid model with classes offered in-person and online making it available to POTS patients across the state. The program celebrated its first anniversary in July with a celebration for program patients and staff. To learn more about the program, please email [email protected].

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