Sign In

🧠 What is POTS?

POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. It causes your heart rate to increase significantly when moving from lying down to standing up, often accompanied by a variety of disabling symptoms. It primarily affects women between the ages of 15 and 50, and it’s more common than many doctors realize.

📋 Common Symptoms

• Rapid heartbeat or palpitations when standing
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
• Fatigue and brain fog
• Nausea and gastrointestinal issues
• Shakiness, temperature intolerance, and headaches

Symptoms can vary from person to person and may fluctuate day to day.

🧪 Diagnosis & Testing 

Getting diagnosed with POTS can be a long journey, often because symptoms mimic other conditions. Diagnosis typically includes:
• A tilt table test or 10-minute standing test
• Monitoring heart rate increase of 30+ bpm in adults (or 40+ in teens)
• Ruling out other potential causes of symptoms

Autonomic testing is available at specialized clinics, such as those at Vanderbilt University, Mayo Clinic, or Johns Hopkins.

🌐 Trusted Resources 

Explore these highly regarded organizations and informational pages:
• NIH: Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
• Dysautonomia International
• Vanderbilt Autonomic Dysfunction Center
• Standing Up to POTS
• Mayo Clinic POTS Information

✅ Next Steps 

1. Find a specialist: Ask your doctor for a referral to an autonomic or dysautonomia clinic.
2. Track your symptoms: Journaling symptoms can help specialists diagnose and treat more effectively.
3. Hydrate and salt up: Follow your doctor’s recommendations or ask about supplements that support POTS.
4. Build your support network: Connect with patient communities online or through organizations.
5. Stay educated: Medical knowledge around POTS is growing fast, check back often for new updates.