Human Health is a health tracking platform and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information is intended to support, not replace, conversations with qualified healthcare professionals.

Standing up and feeling your heart race. Sitting down to work but losing focus within minutes. For many people, these aren’t isolated frustrations. They are daily realities of living with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

The two conditions affect very different systems, yet their symptoms often collide. Fatigue, brain fog, and poor concentration can blur the line between what’s neurological and what’s physiological. That overlap makes it harder to find clear answers.

In this article, we’ll explore how POTS and ADHD connect, where they differ, and why their overlap matters for everyday life and diagnosis. You’ll also see how symptom tracking with Human Health can bring clarity when patterns feel confusing.

POTS and ADHD: is there a link?

Research suggests there may be a connection between POTS and ADHD, though the relationship is not fully understood. Some studies report higher rates of ADHD traits in people with POTS, possibly due to shared experiences such as fatigue, poor concentration, or brain fog. While the two conditions affect very different systems, they can co-exist and add complexity to daily life. Only a healthcare provider can confirm a diagnosis of either condition.

ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that primarily affects attention, impulse control, and activity levels. Core traits include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, though these appear differently depending on the subtype: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, or combined presentation. ADHD can influence school, work, and relationships, and while it’s lifelong, symptoms may change with age.

POTS as an autonomic nervous system dysfunction

POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) is a condition that impacts the autonomic nervous system, which regulates heart rate, blood pressure, and circulation. In POTS, blood flow doesn’t adjust properly when standing up, often leading to a rapid heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fatigue. Many people also report “brain fog,” making it harder to concentrate. These symptoms can overlap with ADHD, adding to diagnostic challenges.

ADHD shapes how the brain regulates attention and behavior, while POTS disrupts how the body regulates circulation. Understanding both side by side helps explain why symptoms can overlap but require different approaches.

Shared symptoms of POTS and ADHD

Although POTS and ADHD arise from different systems, their effects often look alike in daily life. This overlap can blur the picture for both patients and providers, making it difficult to separate one set of symptoms from the other.

Brain fog and poor concentration

Both ADHD and POTS can make it hard to think clearly. People often describe losing track of conversations, forgetting tasks, or struggling to stay focused. For ADHD, this is linked to attention regulation, while in POTS it often arises from poor blood flow to the brain when upright.

In fact, formal testing shows people with POTS often score higher on inattention measures than healthy controls, even without a childhood history of ADHD (Raj et al., 2018, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry).

Fatigue and low energy

Persistent tiredness is common in both conditions. In ADHD, fatigue may come from mental overexertion or poor sleep routines, while in POTS it often follows standing, physical activity, or changes in blood pressure. Tracking fatigue in the Human Health symptom tracker can reveal when and why your energy drops.

Dizziness and lightheadedness

People with ADHD sometimes experience dizziness due to side effects from medication or sensory overload. In POTS, dizziness is more directly related to the autonomic nervous system struggling to regulate heart rate and blood pressure. In both cases, dizziness can disrupt daily activities and contribute to concentration problems.

Emotional regulation difficulties

Both conditions may contribute to mood swings or irritability. ADHD is strongly linked with challenges in managing frustration or emotional impulses. POTS symptoms, especially when unpredictable, can lead to heightened stress or anxiety. This overlap can make it hard to tell whether mood changes are neurological or physiological in origin.

Recognizing these shared patterns matters. When one condition overshadows the other, symptoms can be misattributed, delaying proper support or leading to incomplete care. Careful tracking gives your healthcare provider a clearer picture, helping ensure that neither POTS nor ADHD is overlooked.

Physical & psychological impact of POTS & ADHD

The effects of living with POTS and ADHD ripple through daily life, influencing physical health, mental wellbeing, and how someone functions in school, work, and relationships. 

Daily physical strain

POTS can bring dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and fatigue, while ADHD may affect sleep patterns and lead to restlessness. Together, these create a constant physical load on the body. Tracking physical symptoms in Human Health allows you to connect them with triggers like heat, dehydration, or overstimulation.

Cognitive and emotional stress

Both conditions can create brain fog, attention challenges, and emotional swings. This often leads to frustration, self-doubt, or feelings of being misunderstood. When POTS flares overlap with ADHD traits, it can magnify stress and impact confidence. Logging these experiences can highlight patterns that support clearer conversations with healthcare providers.

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Social and functional impact

Managing school, work, or relationships can be harder when symptoms overlap. Fatigue, forgetfulness, or irritability may lead to missed deadlines or misunderstandings. For many, this results in social withdrawal or reduced participation in daily activities. Documenting how symptoms affect your routines can help illustrate the true impact to others.

When these impacts are misattributed to only one condition, people risk receiving incomplete care or support. Careful tracking can prevent one diagnosis from overshadowing the other, ensuring both POTS and ADHD are recognized in the challenges they create.

POTS and ADHD: can you have both?

Yes, it’s possible to live with both POTS and ADHD. Because the two conditions affect different systems of the body, they can co-exist rather than one causing the other. 

Studies suggest that people with POTS report higher rates of ADHD-like symptoms, but the overlap may also come from shared experiences like fatigue, brain fog, or poor sleep.

Having both can complicate diagnosis and daily management, since similar symptoms may be attributed to the wrong condition. This is why careful tracking of when and how symptoms occur (using tools like the Human Health symptom tracker) can help you and your provider separate patterns and build a clearer picture of what’s happening.

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Today’s available treatments for POTS & ADHD

Finding the right treatment is rarely straightforward when you’re living with both POTS and ADHD. What helps one condition can sometimes complicate the other, and it often takes time, patience, and close tracking to see what works best. While approaches differ, combining medical care with your own data can make it easier to identify patterns and communicate them clearly to providers.

ADHD

ADHD care often includes a combination of behavioral strategies, therapy, and medication. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate or amphetamines are widely studied and shown to improve focus and reduce hyperactivity for many individuals. Non-stimulant options and cognitive behavioral therapy may also support daily functioning. 

However, not all treatments work the same for everyone, and side effects can vary. Logging medication timing, sleep, and focus in Human Health may help identify patterns that inform better care discussions.

POTS

POTS management usually focuses on supporting the autonomic nervous system and reducing symptom severity. Research highlights approaches such as increased hydration and salt intake, compression garments, and graded exercise therapy.

Some people are prescribed medications like beta-blockers or fludrocortisone, but these are tailored to individual needs and require medical supervision. Because POTS symptoms can fluctuate, tracking daily routines (such as standing tolerance, heart rate, and fatigue) can reveal which interventions provide stability.

The biggest challenge isn’t just finding treatments; it’s balancing them. 

Stimulants for ADHD may raise heart rate, while POTS strategies like fluid loading may do little for concentration. Careful tracking helps reveal when treatments are helping both conditions, and when they might be working against each other.

Lifestyle adjustments to counter POTS and ADHD

Managing daily life with both POTS and ADHD isn’t about a single fix. It’s about balance. What steadies one condition may sometimes unsettle the other, so small, consistent changes become the foundation for navigating both.

Building structured routines

Routine supports ADHD by reducing distraction and decision fatigue, while for POTS it can stabilize sleep, hydration, and recovery. A consistent daily rhythm helps both conditions feel less unpredictable. With the Human Health habit tracker, you can build routines and monitor how they influence symptoms over time.

Prioritizing sleep quality

Poor sleep worsens symptoms across the board. ADHD may cause racing thoughts at night, while POTS often disrupts rest with heart rate changes. Calming bedtime habits and reducing screens can help. Logging sleep quality in Human Health shows how rest, or lack of it, affects fatigue and focus the next day.

Gentle movement and pacing

Exercise intolerance in POTS and restlessness in ADHD can make activity a double-edged sword. Gentle movement such as stretching or slow walks often helps circulation and focus without overwhelming the body. Recording these sessions in Human Health lets you connect activity levels with dizziness, fatigue, or concentration.

Managing overstimulation

Noise, crowds, or stress can worsen symptoms in both conditions. Creating calm environments, using sensory tools, or pacing social commitments reduces overload. When you log overstimulation events in Human Health, patterns emerge that reveal which environments trigger symptoms most often.

Lifestyle changes won’t eliminate POTS or ADHD, but they can reduce the strain of living with both. Tracking how these adjustments play out day to day helps you see what genuinely supports you, and prevents trial-and-error from feeling endless.

How Human’s app can help you manage POTS & ADHD

When two conditions overlap, it’s easy to feel like you’re piecing together a puzzle without the full picture. Human Health helps fill in those missing pieces by giving you a structured way to log symptoms, track treatments, and record daily routines.

You can monitor fatigue, dizziness, sleep, or focus struggles side by side, then export your data as a clear PDF to share with your healthcare provider. This makes conversations more productive and helps ensure neither POTS nor ADHD is overlooked.

Start using Human Health’s symptom tracker and habit tracker today to uncover patterns, reduce uncertainty, and take a more active role in managing both conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Can ADHD medications worsen POTS symptoms?

Some ADHD medications, especially stimulants, may increase heart rate or blood pressure. This can worsen POTS symptoms for some people, though experiences vary. Always discuss changes with your healthcare provider.

2. Are there any specific warning signs that my symptoms are due to POTS and not just anxiety or ADHD?

Yes , hallmark signs of POTS include dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and fatigue that appear after standing. These are distinct from anxiety-related symptoms, but only a doctor can confirm a diagnosis.

3. How can I tell if fatigue is from POTS, ADHD, or both?

It can be difficult to separate. POTS fatigue often follows standing or activity, while ADHD fatigue may stem from mental effort or poor sleep. Tracking when fatigue occurs can help you and your provider see patterns.

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Sources:

1. National Library of Medicine: Cognitive and Psychological Issues in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
2. National Library of Medicine: Water Ingestion in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: A Feasible Treatment Option?

Disclaimer: Human Health is a health tracking platform and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information on this site is intended to support, not replace, conversations with qualified healthcare professionals.