❤️ POTS, Dizziness, and a Racing Heart: Why the Conversation Matters

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, better known as POTS, is a condition involving symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. That means symptoms tend to show up or worsen when someone moves into an upright position, such as sitting or standing, and often improve when lying down.

Commonly reported symptoms can include lightheadedness, dizziness, palpitations, racing heart, fatigue, exercise intolerance, nausea, headache, “brain fog,” weakness, and feeling worse in heat or after prolonged standing.

Symptoms alone do not diagnose POTS.

• Many conditions can look similar, including dehydration, anemia, thyroid disease, medication effects, cardiac rhythm problems, orthostatic hypotension, vasovagal syncope, infection, anxiety, deconditioning, and other medical concerns.

For patients, this means:

• You are not “making it up,” and you also deserve a careful evaluation.

For providers, this means:

• We should validate symptoms, screen thoughtfully, recognize when referral is needed, and help patients build safe, progressive strategies to improve function.