What is POTS? (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
Learn what POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and what it actually feels like to live with it.
Living with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) can feel confusing, overwhelming, and often misunderstood—especially because many of its symptoms are invisible.
This page is here to help you understand what POTS is, why it happens, and what it can actually feel like to live with it.
What is POTS?
POTS is a form of dysautonomia, which means the autonomic nervous system isn’t functioning properly. With POTS, the body struggles to regulate these functions—especially when moving from lying down to standing.
The autonomic nervous system controls things your body is supposed to do automatically, like:
Heart rate
Blood pressure
Breathing
Temperature regulation
Digestion
Autonomic Nervous Dysfunction
POTS involves autonomic nervous system failure causing abnormal heart rate increase upon standing. Heart rate jumps abnormally high (often +30 beats per minute or more within 10 minutes of standing)
Baroreceptor Reflex Impairment
Impaired baroreceptor reflexes reduce blood vessel constriction, disrupting normal blood flow control.
Blood Pooling and Symptoms
Blood pools in the lower extremities, causing brain hypoperfusion, dizziness, and rapid heart rate in POTS patients.
There is no cure for POTS, only treatments and lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms.
What Exactly Happens in POTS?
When a healthy person stands up:
Blood vessels tighten
Blood moves efficiently to the brain
Heart rate adjusts slightly
With POTS:
Blood pools in the lower body
Less blood reaches the brain
The heart compensates by beating much faster
This leads to a rapid increase in heart rate (tachycardia)—often 30+ beats per minute within 10 minutes of standing.
Common Symptoms of POTS
POTS affects each person differently, but common symptoms include:
Dizziness or lightheadedness (especially when standing)
Rapid heart rate or heart palpitations
Fainting or near fainting
Severe Fatigue
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Headaches or migraines
Nausea or digestive issues
Temperature sensitivity
Shakiness or weakness
POTS Symptoms can become worse in certain conditions or situations:
Being in high heat (showers, hot tubs, saunas)
Standing for periods of time (standing in line)
Strenuous exercise
Being sick or having an infection
Menstruation
What Does POTS Feel Like?
POTS is more than just “feeling dizzy.”
It can feel like:
Your body isn’t keeping up with simple movements
Standing takes effort your body can’t sustain
Your energy disappears without warning
Your heart is racing even when you’re not doing much
For many, it’s not just physical—it’s also emotional:
Frustration from limitations
Feeling misunderstood
Loss of independence
What Causes POTS?
Researchers aren’t exactly certain yet, but POTS has be linked to:
Viral illness or serious infections
Autoimmune conditions
Pregnancy
Trauma
Surgery
POTS is far more common in women, usually affecting people ages 15-50.
How is POTS Diagnosed?
POTS is typically diagnosed using:
Tilt table test (most common)
QSART (measures the autonomic nerves that control sweating)
Autonomic breathing test (measures your blood rate and pressure response during exercise)
The key diagnostic criteria is:
A sustained increase in heart rate of 30+ beats per minute (40+ in teens) within 10 minutes of standing
Without a significant drop in blood pressure
Living with POTS
The unpredictability can be one of the greatest challenges. POTS doesn’t always look the same from day to day. Some days may feel more manageable. Others may feel like your body has completely shut down.
It’s not just standing, but how your body responds to everything:
Movement
Stress
Heat
Energy use
If you’re living with POTS, your experience is real. Even if others can’t see it or don’t fully understand it.
There is a growing community of people managing this alongside you, learning how to adapt, adjust, and rebuild life in a body that doesn’t feel like their own.
If this helped you understand what you’re going through, or helped you explain it to someone else, consider sharing it or subscribing for more.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.