Living with POTS: Challenges, Perspectives, and Hope

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that affects blood flow and heart rate. When someone with POTS stands up, their heart rate increases abnormally, often by 30 beats per minute or more within 10 minutes, leading to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and even fainting (Raj, 2013). Though once considered rare, POTS is now recognized as a common cause of chronic disability, particularly among young women.

Living with POTS can be overwhelming. Everyday activities such as standing in line, walking across a room, or taking a shower may trigger dizziness, brain fog, and exhaustion. Research shows that the quality of life for individuals with POTS can be as impaired as those with conditions like congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Benrud-Larson et al., 2002). Many patients face delays in diagnosis, which of course can increase frustration, isolation, and functional decline.