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Cardiologists seeing more cases of POTS since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
POTS is a disorder that disrupts the body's ability to regulate blood flow while changing positions. Dr. Charles Hong says they have seen a sharp rise since COVID.Author: Jeremiah Brown
Published: 6:42 PM EDT March 10, 2025
Updated: 10:16 AM EDT March 11, 2025
KENT COUNTY, Mich. — This week marks five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began disrupting lives and shuttering communities across Michigan.
For many since then who caught a bout of the virus, their illness only lasted a few days. However, Cardiologist Charles Hong at Michigan State University says he has seen many patients experiencing a blood circulation disorder after coming down with a case of COVID.
"From the cardiologist perspective, the most common sequela of what you call Post COVID Syndrome might be what we call POTS," said Hong. "Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome."
He said the syndrome is characterized by a sudden increase in heart rate after standing up since the condition impacts the body's ability to regulate blood flow when changing positions.
Hong said the condition can be debilitating, with symptoms like dizziness, fainting, brain fog, shortness of breath and even gastrointestinal issues.
And since the pandemic, Hong said his work has been a lot busier.
"Before COVID, I probably saw a few people on maybe a month basis, not more than 20 a year," said Hong. "I'm [now] seeing that almost on a daily basis, so the incidents have gone up tremendously, and that's part of the reason why people believe that this is a part of a post COVID syndrome."
Hong added that POTS was mainly seen among younger women. However, since the pandemic, he is seeing largely both young men and young women with POTS following relatively minor cases of COVID.
"COVID is associated with a whole host of autonomic disorders, dysfunctions, and maybe it's unmasking what normally used to be a tolerable condition into something that is noticeable and sometimes debilitating," said Hong.
He said that the medical community is still trying to learn why patients are developing these conditions following COVID. He reminded that the COVID-19 pandemic began just five years ago, and research takes time.
"There's a precedence for this. Classic example will be Lyme disease, right? Lyme disease, you have an acute Lyme disease, but then you have these post sequela of chronic, sort of a debilitating disease that you suffer," said Hong. "We don't know that much about Post COVID Syndrome. People are still trying to figure out what that is."
For patients experiencing POTS after COVID, Dr. Hong said he has seen symptoms improve after a few weeks to months, but certain symptoms, such as brain fog, can sometimes last up to a year or longer.
Treatment can include certain lifestyle adjustments, physical therapy and medications if symptoms persist.
