Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Program

Overview

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition that causes the heart to beat faster than normal when transitioning from sitting or lying down to standing up. POTS is common and affects about 1 to 3 million people in the United States. You may have POTS symptoms that can come and go over a period of years.

Symptoms of POTS can make it difficult to live a normal life on a daily basis. Cleveland Clinic experts can accurately diagnose POTS and get you on the path of recovery. Our program has trusted neurologists who treat a high volume of people with POTS symptoms, a team approach that gives you the attention you deserve, shared medical appointments and easy access to receive treatment at a facility or in the comfort of your own home.

Testing & Treatment

POTS can be difficult for healthcare providers to diagnose because many of the symptoms can happen over time. People with POTS may have symptoms for months to years before finally being diagnosed with the condition. We start by talking to you about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life. We may do tests to confirm a POTS diagnosis.

Tilt table testing is the gold standard for diagnosing POTS. We may also do tests like an autonomic breathing test, blood and urine (pee) tests, endocardiogram, quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART) or a skin nerve biopsy.

There’s no cure for POTS. We work with you to create a treatment plan that works for you.

Some treatment options might include:

• Biofeedback.
• Cardiac rehabilitation.
• Medications.
• Talk therapy.
• Thigh-high medical compression stockings.

Appointments & Locations

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment with an ALS specialist in Cleveland Clinic’s Neuromuscular Center, please call 216.636.5860 or 866.588.2264.

Virtual Visits

Whether you’re a new or existing patient, you can get an initial evaluation or follow-up care from a neuromuscular specialist using your phone, tablet or computer. This means there’s no travel or parking, less waiting and significant time savings. Call 216.636.5860 to schedule a virtual visit for you or a loved one and get the details on cost and set-up instructions.

• Learn more about virtual visit options for scheduled appointments.

MyChart

MyChart connects you to your healthcare team from the comfort and safety of home. With this secure online tool, you can manage your appointments and complete pre-visit tasks, communicate with your providers and keep track of your test results and medications.

• Visit clevelandclinic.org/mychart to get started.

Locations

• Avon - Richard E. Jacobs Health Center.

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

• Fairview Hospital.
• Hillcrest Hospital.
• Independence Family Health Center.
• Solon Family Health Center.
• Stow-Falls Express and Outpatient Care.
• Willoughby Hills Family Health Center.
• Strongsville Family Health and Surgery Center.
• Sheffield Family Health Center.
• Amherst Family Health Center.

Medical Professionals

Refer a Patient

The Neuromuscular Center offers direct referral lines to ease the process of making a patient referral.

To refer a patient to the Neurological Institute via phone, please call our dedicated physician referral hotline at 216.445.8455. An intake coordinator will handle your call directly. If you’re unable to reach an intake coordinator, please leave a message and they’ll return your call within the work day (if it’s left before 1 p.m. ET) or the next work day (if it’s left after 1 p.m. ET).

To refer a patient to the Neurological Institute via fax, please download and complete our physician referral form and fax to 216.636.2596.

• Physician Referral Form.

DrConnect

Stay connected to patients you refer to Cleveland Clinic through online updates and electronic medical records.

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