This unusual syndrome causes your heart to race when you stand up
But sometimes that process goes awry: the blood vessels in the legs don't squeeze enough to ensure sufficient blood flow to the brain, so the heart accelerates even more than usual to compensate. A rapid heart rate — tachycardia — is a key feature of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, a mysterious condition that's gained greater recognition in recent years.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
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