The Mystery Illness Affecting Millions: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

This resource provides an in-depth overview of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition that affects millions worldwide but remains often misunderstood and underdiagnosed. Kathy Peterson, founder of Standing Up to POTS, shares her personal journey with her daughter's POTS diagnosis, detailing the challenges of lengthy diagnosis times and debilitating symptoms that affect multiple organ systems. The video explains the primary diagnostic method—the tilt table test—and discusses the potential underlying causes, including hypovolemia, hyperadrenergic states, and autoimmunity. It also touches on the impact of comorbid conditions such as infection-triggered immune responses, with a particular focus on recent findings suggesting links between POTS and long-haul COVID-19. Peterson emphasizes the importance of increasing awareness, research, and more effective, personalized treatments to improve the quality of life for those living with POTS.