Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS): a common but unfamiliar syndrome

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition in which a change from a supine to an upright position causes an abnormally large increase in heart rate which may be accompanied by a variety of physical complaints. We report two cases illustrating the heterogeneity of this syndrome. We give an update on the etiology of POTS, which is still poorly understood, and its overlap with other syndromes such as chronic fatigue syndrome. Clinicians should be aware of POTS, a fairly common clinical entity, that can result in significant impairments to a patient’s quality of life. Lifestyle measures (under which adequate fluid and salt intake, exercise) are a first line of treatment; if insufficient, pharmacotherapy can be considered to improve quality of life.