Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is defined as an abnormal increase in heart rate on becoming upright.

Postural position of the body

Orthostatic an upright position

Tachycardia increased heart rate (over 100 bpm)

Syndrome a combination of symptoms

The hallmark symptom of POTS is an increase in heart rate from sitting to an upright position of more than 30 beats per minute or to a heart rate greater than 120 beats per minute within 10 minutes of being upright.

To be given a diagnosis of POTS, a person needs to have: 

• A sustained increase in heart rate of greater than 30 beats per minute within 10 minutes of standing.
• The heart rate increase is often over 120 beats per minute when upright.
• Those aged 12-19 years require an increase of at least 40 beats per minute. 
• Some patients with POTS also have low blood pressure.

Patients are usually diagnosed by a tilt table test.

POTS Symptoms

Dizziness	Bowel problems
Fainting	Sweating
Headache	Nausea
Tiredness	Poor sleep
Poor memory	Weakness
Poor concentration	Visual disturbances
Sense of anxiety	Shakiness
Difficulty with exercise	Palpitations
Purple discoloured feet	Neck/shoulder pain

Symptoms can be present in varying degrees depending on the individual, but POTS can be severely debilitating.

For more information, visit: http://www.potsuk.org/ 

http://www.stars.org.uk/patient-info/conditions/pots