Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system characterized by an abnormally large increase in heart rate when a person moves from lying down or sitting to standing up. Specifically, in adults, the heart rate increases by at least 30 beats per minute within 10 minutes of standing, and in adolescents, by at least 40 beats per minute, without a significant drop in blood pressure
. POTS causes a variety of symptoms that often appear or worsen upon standing, including:
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Lightheadedness or dizziness, sometimes leading to fainting
- Fatigue and exercise intolerance
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Palpitations
- Tremors
- Nausea
- Weakness or heaviness in the legs
- Chest pain and shortness of breath
These symptoms can significantly impact daily life and physical activity
. The exact causes of POTS are not fully understood, but it is thought to involve malfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate and blood pressure. It may develop after viral infections, surgery, trauma, autoimmune diseases, or pregnancy. It is more common in females and often begins in adolescence or young adulthood
. Diagnosis is typically made using a standing test or a tilt table test to measure heart rate changes upon standing, after ruling out other causes like dehydration or orthostatic hypotension
. There is no cure for POTS, but symptoms can be managed through lifestyle changes such as increasing fluid and salt intake, wearing compression stockings, gradual exercise programs, and sometimes medications like beta blockers or midodrine. Most patients improve with treatment, though some may have persistent symptoms
. In summary, POTS is a chronic condition involving excessive heart rate increase upon standing, causing a range of symptoms related to blood flow and autonomic nervous system dysfunction
