02 · Body category
When standing brings dizziness, a racing heart, or a sudden loss of energy, the pattern matters. Learn about dysautonomia, POTS, and the observations that can support a clinical assessment.
A little at a time is enough.
Support should fit your needs.
A place to begin
A guide to symptoms, context, and the questions worth bringing to your care team.
The symptoms, systems, and questions behind this topic.
Notice timing, daily demands, and relevant environmental context.
What to observe and where clinical evaluation fits.
Document, investigate, and get the right support.
What it is
The autonomic nervous system helps regulate heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature. POTS is one form of dysautonomia involving persistent symptoms while upright and an excessive heart-rate increase.
Why it’s missed
A seated pulse in a short appointment may not capture what happens during sustained standing. Explaining the change in position and symptoms can help.
Commonly reported symptoms
These symptoms and concerns can overlap with other conditions. A pattern supports a conversation with a clinician; it does not establish a diagnosis.
The body & environment
Six connections to bring into the conversation. Use these clues to guide the questions you ask.
Heat can make upright symptoms harder to manage. Note weather, hot showers, and overheated rooms when describing episodes.
Include infections and changes in function in the timeline. A prior infection does not necessarily mean a virus is still active.
Report vomiting, diarrhea, limited intake, and medications that affect fluids. A fluid or salt plan should account for your health conditions.
Describe flushing, hives, or gastrointestinal episodes separately. Similar symptoms across conditions do not prove a shared diagnosis.
Track location alongside temperature, time upright, travel, and meals. These factors can explain apparent building-related differences.
Mention delayed crashes after effort. An activity plan needs to account for post-exertional malaise if present.
What to observe & assess
Symptoms, pulse, and pressure belong together. Combine the history with a clinician-guided assessment. A wearable reading or one standing pulse change is not a diagnosis.
01
Measure heart rate and blood pressure together.
02
Record what happens when you are upright.
03
Look beyond the pulse number.
04
Identify factors that may alter readings.
05
Bring the wider clinical picture.
What to do next
Choose what feels manageable. Use these steps to organize observations, care, and practical support. Address urgent symptoms first.
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Keep exploring
CHRONICALLY EXPOSED · RESOURCE
How POTS overlaps with MCAS and EDS — and why the building you are in matters.
Explore resource ↗CHRONICALLY EXPOSED · RESOURCE
Track standing heart rate, dizziness, and heat or fluid response.
Download tracker ↓Further guidance: Johns Hopkins · POTS · Dysautonomia International
A grounded first step
A useful record connects symptoms, posture, and context. Work with your clinician on a plan that supports safety and daily life.