Home Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Test

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) occurs when your heart rate increases too much when you stand. When this happens your heart is beating too fast for your heart chamber to fill up with blood and little blood gets passed with your brain. The result is dizziness and many other symptoms found in ME/CFS.

The Test

1. Lie down and rest for several minutes.
2. Measure heart rate and blood pressure.
3. Stand up and do the same after 2, 5 and 10 minutes. Be careful - you may get dizzy or faint.

(Blood pressure drops may or may not occur if you have POTS.)

The Criteria for POTS

• Adults - a sustained increase in heart rate of greater than 30 beats per minute occurs within 10 minutes of standing
• Adolescents - Those aged 12-19 years require an increase of at least 40 beats per minute
• Warning: These criteria may not apply to those who already have a low heart rate when resting