POTS Signs And Symptoms

Individuals with POTS may not have all of these symptoms, as the severity and presentation can vary given the complexity of the nervous system and what happens when it is not properly functioning. That being said, we did want to compile a list of some of the more commonly reported symptoms individuals in our community with POTS (a form of autonomic dysfunction) may experience, and a few signs.

◦ Blood pooling
◦ Blood pressure fluctuations
◦ Brain fog
◦ Chest pain
◦ Coat hanger pain
◦ Cold intolerance
◦ Constipation
◦ Diarrhea
◦ Difficulty swallowing
◦ Dry mouth
◦ Exercise intolerance
◦ Extreme fatigue
◦ Gastroparesis
◦ Heat intolerance
◦ Incontinence
◦ Insomnia
◦ Joint pain
◦ Light sensitivity
◦ Lightheadedness
◦ Migraine headaches
◦ Muscle pain
◦ Muscle weakness
◦ Nausea
◦ Numbness or tingling in limbs
◦ Orthostatic intolerance
◦ Palpitations
◦ Presyncope
◦ Sexual dysfunction
◦ Shortness of breath
◦ Sleep irregularities
◦ Sound sensitivity
◦ Sweating abnormalities
◦ Syncope
◦ Tachycardia
◦ Tension headaches
◦ Tremulousness
◦ Unexplained fever
◦ Urinary urgency or difficulty voiding
◦ Vision changes, such as blurry vision
◦ Vomiting

Given the variation within our community, it is always possible for individuals diagnosed with POTS to have symptoms that are not listed here, or to have symptoms that are related to other underlying conditions.

Please use this as a helpful guide: this information does not confirm a diagnosis or mean you should not receive medical attention. It is always important to reach out to your medical team with any concerns you may have about symptoms you may be experiencing.

Sources:

Ashangari, C., & Suleman, A. (2015). A comprehensive study on postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) symptoms. Autonomic Neuroscience, 192, 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2015.07.221

Raj, S. R. (2013). Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Circulation, 127(23), 2336–2342. https://doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.112.144501

Raj, S. R., Fedorowski, A., & Sheldon, R. S. (2022). Diagnosis and management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 194(10). https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.211373

Spahic, J. M., Hamrefors, V., Johansson, M., Ricci, F., Melander, O., Sutton, R., & Fedorowski, A. (2022). Malmö pots symptom score: Assessing symptom burden in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Journal of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13566