If you live with POTS, you may have asked this question yourself. Does POTS go away?
Until recently, there was little research to answer it. The authors of a 2026 study noted that data on long-term POTS outcomes are scarce.1 Their study followed people with POTS for more than 20 years, and an editorial in the same journal described it as probably the longest POTS follow-up ever performed.2
Here is what they found, and how Pauser can help you keep your own record.
The short answer
For most people in the study, POTS did not fully go away. Only 2% reported their symptoms had completely resolved. But 46% said their symptoms had improved.1
Inside the 20-year POTS study
Researchers contacted about 120 people who were first evaluated for POTS at the Vanderbilt Autonomic Center between 1987 and 2014.2 Forty-four were included in the analysis, and 98% of them were women.1
| 23 yrs median time since POTS symptoms began | 48 median age at the time of the survey | 57% improved, when people with variable symptoms were set aside |
Other findings from the study:1
- Age at onset did not make a significant difference. Improvement rates were similar for people whose symptoms began in childhood and people whose symptoms began as adults.
- Other symptoms differed between groups. People who did not improve were more likely to report neuropathy, gastroparesis, and overactive bladder symptoms. All but one person in that group had at least one, compared with 20% of the improved group.
- Most people stayed in care. Most continued to receive medical care for POTS and remained on medication and non-medication approaches.
The researcher who lives it
The study's lead author, Kate Bourne, is a University of Calgary medical student who found out she had POTS at 24. Her symptoms meant an extra year of high school and eight years to finish her undergraduate degree. Now 36, she says her symptoms are well managed.3
Study lead Dr. Satish Raj, a professor in the University of Calgary's department of cardiac sciences, was direct about the results.3
“For most patients, it doesn’t go away.”
Dr. Satish Raj, speaking to CBC News
He also pointed out that almost half of participants reported their symptoms improved over time.3
What the study cannot tell you
- It is a small group. Forty-four people were included in the analysis.1
- Not everyone responded. The editorial notes that only a subset of the original group completed the survey, which introduces selection bias.2
- It comes from one center. All participants were first evaluated at the Vanderbilt Autonomic Center.2
- It is self-reported. Results come from an online survey of how participants described their own symptoms.1
The findings describe this group of people, not any one person's future.
How Pauser can help
The study looked at change over many years. If you want your own record of how your days go, Pauser pairs heart rate from your watch with the context you add. You tag the moment. Pauser never decides your triggers for you.
| Check how you respond when you stand Standing Check logs your heart rate when you stand, at times you choose. The Sit-to-Stand Test is a guided check you can repeat and compare over time. | Keep POTS details in one view POTS Mode and the POTS Dashboard bring your symptoms, tags, and heart rate together. Add symptoms and tags as they happen. |
| Add the context only you know Note your mood, activity, and place. Trigger Tracker and Compare & Correlate show which of your own tags tend to line up with heart rate changes. | Get alerts you set Pause Signal lets you know when your heart rate crosses a threshold you choose. |
| Log salt and water Day totals for salt and water sit right next to the rest of your day. | Take a pause when you want one Guided Pause Sessions and custom breathing presets are there whenever you choose to slow down. |
| Look back over time Daily and weekly reports show your patterns across days and weeks. | Share with your care team Download your report as a PDF to bring to your next appointment. |
Works with Apple Watch on iPhone and with Wear OS watches on Android.
October 25 is POTS Awareness Day, designated by UK POTS organizations during Dysautonomia Awareness Month. Turquoise is the awareness color.4 Share this article with someone who is still asking the question.
Want more? Read the questions people with POTS actually ask, see POTS Awareness Month and heart rate tracking, or learn how Standing Check works.
Frequently asked questions
Does POTS go away on its own?
In the 20-year study, only 2% of participants reported that their symptoms had completely resolved. Most continued to receive medical care for POTS.1
Can POTS get better over time?
In the study, 46% reported their symptoms had improved. When people with variable symptoms were set aside, 57% reported improvement.1
How long do POTS symptoms last?
Participants had a median of 23 years since symptom onset, and most experienced ongoing symptoms for many years after their first evaluation.1
Does it matter if POTS started in childhood?
The study did not find a significant difference in improvement between people whose symptoms began in childhood and those whose symptoms began as adults.1
How can Pauser help if I have POTS?
Pauser helps you keep your own record. Log Standing Checks and Sit-to-Stand Tests, track POTS symptoms and tags, log salt and water, set Pause Signal alerts, and download daily and weekly reports to share with your care team.
