Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system, which regulates functions we don’t consciously control, such as heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and body temperature. POTS is one of a group of disorders that have orthostatic intolerance (OI) as their primary symptom. Orthostatic intolerance means that symptoms occur when standing upright and improve when lying down. The key characteristics of POTS are the specific symptoms and the exaggerated increase in heart rate when standing.
Symptoms of POTS include:
- Lightheadedness or fainting when standing up
- Rapid heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
- Exercise intolerance
- Nausea
- Shakiness or tremors
Researchers aren’t sure yet what exactly causes POTS, but they think there are multiple causes, which they’ve grouped into different subtypes. Some of the subtypes of POTS include neuropathic POTS, hyperadrenergic POTS, and hypovolemic POTS. POTS can also be addressed by modifying behavior or lifestyle, such as increasing salt and fluid intake, wearing compression stockings, and avoiding triggers that worsen symptoms.
