This information is for people aged 18 and over. Contact your GP or paediatric team if you’re worried about possible long COVID symptoms and you’re either:
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is when your heart rate increases very quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down. Symptoms may ease with changes to your daily routine. Some people may need treatment with medicines.
Symptoms of PoTS include:
Some symptoms of PoTS happen when you stand up and get better when you lie down. You may also experience other symptoms, like:
Some people experience mild symptoms, while other people’s symptoms can have a big impact on their daily life.
There are some factors that can make your symptoms worse, like:
The causes of PoTS are not known. It can develop suddenly or gradually over time. It may happen after an infection like coronavirus (COVID-19) and flu.
If you have symptoms of PoTS, a GP may check your blood pressure and heart rate before and after you stand up.
If they suspect you have PoTS, they may do further tests, like:
It may take some time for people to be diagnosed with PoTS, as the symptoms are similar to other health conditions. Your GP will be able to rule out other health conditions and may refer you to a specialist.
Find out more about how PoTS is diagnosed
If you’re diagnosed with PoTS, finding the right treatment for you can take time.
A specialist may suggest making some practical changes to your daily routine like:
You may also be prescribed medicines by your specialist to help control your symptoms, such as beta-blockers.
You may need to try several different medicines or combination of medicines.
If you have PoTS, there are things you can do to help ease your symptoms.
If you’re feeling faint or dizzy, you can try lying down and raising your legs until you feel better.
If you’re unable to lie down, you can try:
Making practical changes to your routine can also help relieve symptoms of PoTS.
PoTS is very common in long COVID.
There’s a patient information booklet for people with long COVID.
Last updated:
18 October 2023