What is POTS and why is it more common now?

The amount of circulation disorder cases has tripled

Heart balloon with stethoscope.
POTS causes drastic heart rate changes between laying down and standing up
(Image credit: J Studios / Getty Images)

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a rise in cases of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The circulation disorder mostly affects women, and while cases used to appear in older individuals, doctors are now seeing a rise in patients between the ages of 15 and 25. POTS can be debilitating and does not currently have a cure.

What is POTS?

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Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.