For Patient Education ...

This award-winning booklet was written especially for adolescents with autonomic dysfunction (autonomic instability, dysautonomia, orthostatic intolerance, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or POTS). The breezy style of writing and page design layout was conceived to engage young readers to keep them focused on the key messages contained in the booklet.

The booklet provides a brief easy-to-understand description of the condition and normal autonomic function. It also lists symptoms and describes common experiences for teens with autonomic dysfunction.

Topics include tips for coping, sharing information about the condition with peers and adults, and managing symptoms.

Guidance is offered on salt intake, exercise, developing a support system, sleep, and creating and staying with a plan for recovery.

Other features and benefits of the booklet include:

• Full-color design
• Medical and other illustration
  
• Tracking logs
  
• A list of further resources
  
• Assurance — it’s used by Mayo Clinic in the care and treatment of its patients
  
• Proven track record in use with patients
  
• A product created by Mayo Clinic physicians in collaboration with professional health care educators, writers and medical illustrators

Benefits of This Booklet to Your Patient

Teenagers suffering from autonomic dysfunction may face many frightening symptoms, including dizziness, chronic fatigue, headaches, and other bodily and emotional discomforts. This booklet offers an explanation for the condition and more importantly what can be done to manage it.

The booklet offers its guidance in a unique program we call STEPS. Following our STEPS leads your patient down a path to a healthier, more balanced quality of life. STEPS includes:

S — Salt intake guidelines
T — Take large amounts of fluids
E — Exercise
P — Prescription medications
S — Support system, sleep, school, setting priorities and goals, and safety

Help your patient through a difficult time in his or her life through the important information contained in this booklet.

When you purchase Mayo Clinic patient education materials, proceeds are used to further medical education and research at Mayo Clinic. You not only get the answers to your questions, you become part of the solution.

Patients should review this educational material with their physicians to ensure it is consistent with a medically approved treatment plan. Pharmaceutical and medical device companies that wish to use this material in conjunction with an educational program must contact Mayo Clinic for approval. Mayo Clinic does not sponsor or endorse third party products and/or services.