PoTS Awareness Day, October 25th, aims to raise awareness about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), an under-recognised and debilitating condition.
PoTS is a subset of the broader category of orthostatic intolerance, where symptoms are mainly experienced when an individual transitions to an upright position. Common symptoms include dizziness/light-headedness and palpitations; however, the list is extensive. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, often fluctuating from day to day. The key diagnostic feature of PoTS is a persistent and abnormal increase in heart rate after sitting up or standing.
PoTS is thought to affect at least 0.2% of the general population, and is more prevalent in females aged between 15 and 50, although it does occur in males. Importantly, many symptoms overlap with other conditions such as ME/CFS, and a proportion of individuals with ME/CFS may also have PoTS as a co-existing condition. It is vital to distinguish between the two as their management approaches can differ. However, getting a PoTS diagnosis can be a challenging process because many healthcare providers are still unaware of the condition.
Read our detailed article on PoTS and ME/CFS
