Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a chronic syndrome characterized by fast heart rate (30-40 BPM higher than resting heart rate), lightheadedness/dizziness, fainting, heart palpitations (feeling your heart beat in your chest), brain fog, exhaustion, shakiness, and anxiety. While these are the most prevalent symptoms, POTS varies greatly from case to case. Some people can experience only a few of these symptoms while others can experience nearly all of them.

POTS most often affects people aged 15-50, and predominantly affects women. POTS can be exacerbated by warm environments, sitting and standing quickly, intensive exercise, menstruation, or illness.

This week, Dr. Karp and student producer Kaya Basatemur discuss how POTS works, how people with this syndrome treat the symptoms, disorders that look similar to POTS, and the implications of what this might mean for people with POTS.