Disclaimer: Human Health is a health tracking platform and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

Imagine standing up from a chair and suddenly feeling your heart race, your head spin, and your energy drain in an instant. 

Now picture navigating those moments while also living with autism, where sensory sensitivities and social demands can already feel overwhelming.

This is the reality for some autistic people who also experience POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). 

Research shows that autonomic issues like POTS are more frequently reported in autistic individuals than in the general population. In this article, we’ll explore what’s known about this connection, highlight overlapping symptoms, and share how Human Health can help you track patterns and bring clearer information to your doctor.

The link between POTS and autism

Research suggests autistic people may be more likely to experience autonomic dysfunction, including POTS, than the general population. In one UK study, about one-third of autistic adults assessed were diagnosed with POTS (albeit from a small sample size), and many others had related conditions. Some individuals also had overlapping hypermobility syndromes, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which may contribute to the connection.

Scientists are still working to understand why these conditions co-occur. Possible explanations include differences in how the nervous system regulates heart rate and blood flow, variations in sensory processing, and immune system involvement. 

What’s clear is that the overlap is real enough that dizziness, fatigue, or palpitations in autistic individuals should not be dismissed and may warrant assessment for POTS.

Shared symptoms of POTS and autism

Although POTS and autism are very different conditions, they can create overlapping challenges. A quick look at the symptom lists shows why they’re sometimes confused or intertwined.

Fatigue and low energy

Both POTS and autism can involve overwhelming fatigue. For people with POTS, fatigue often follows changes in blood flow and heart rate. For autistic individuals, fatigue may stem from sensory overload, social demands, or executive function strain. Together, these factors can compound, making rest and pacing essential.

Dizziness and lightheadedness

Dizziness is a hallmark of POTS, especially when standing up. Autistic individuals may also describe feeling lightheaded during sensory overwhelm or overstimulation. Although the causes differ, the result can look similar: a sudden sense of imbalance, weakness, or loss of focus that disrupts daily activities.

Difficulty with focus and memory

“Brain fog” is common in POTS due to reduced blood flow to the brain. Autism often involves executive functioning challenges, which can look like forgetfulness or difficulty shifting attention. When these overlap, it may be difficult to tell whether concentration issues come from autonomic changes, cognitive load, or both.

Anxiety-like sensations

Both conditions can produce physical symptoms that mimic anxiety: a racing heart, restlessness, or shakiness. In POTS, these sensations are driven by autonomic dysfunction. In autism, they often arise from stressful or unpredictable environments. Either way, the body can feel “on edge,” even without a clear emotional trigger.

Tracking these overlapping symptoms can be especially helpful. With Human Health, you can log dizziness, energy levels, or sensory triggers, then tag them for context, helping you and your doctor see where symptoms overlap or diverge.

How autistic individuals may experience POTS differently

When POTS and autism occur together, symptoms can feel more intense and harder to manage. For example, dizziness or a racing heartbeat is already uncomfortable on its own, but for someone with sensory sensitivities, those same physical sensations can quickly become overwhelming.

Environments that others might tolerate (bright lights, crowded rooms, sudden noise) can magnify the impact of POTS symptoms for autistic people. Recovery often takes longer, and flares may trigger shutdowns or heightened anxiety.

Practical adjustments can make a difference. Many find comfort in calming tools such as weighted items, dim lighting, or noise-cancelling headphones. Tracking these sensory factors alongside physical symptoms in Human Health can help reveal which strategies ease the strain, providing clearer insights to share with a healthcare provider.

Available support strategies for POTS and autism today

There’s no single approach that works for everyone, but both autism and POTS have support strategies shown to help many people. 

Autism

Support often focuses on reducing overwhelm and building predictability. Common approaches include:

• Therapies: Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, or behavioral approaches that help strengthen communication and coping skills.
• Sensory supports: Adjusting environments with dim lighting, quiet spaces, weighted items, or noise-cancelling headphones.
• Structured routines: Consistent schedules that reduce uncertainty and ease transitions.
• Assistive tools and caregiver support: From apps and reminders to family or professional support networks, these can help with independence and daily functioning.

Research shows that outcomes improve when strategies are personalized rather than one-size-fits-all. Human Health can help by logging sensory triggers, tracking calming behavior strategies, and generating summaries to share with your care team.

POTS

For POTS, doctors may recommend a mix of lifestyle adjustments, physical conditioning, and in some cases medications to help regulate heart rate and circulation. Research has highlighted a few strategies that are widely used:

• Hydration and salt intake: Many people are advised to increase fluids to 2–3 litres per day and add extra salt, unless contraindicated.
• Compression garments: Stockings or abdominal binders can reduce blood pooling and improve circulation.
• Exercise: A 2025 systematic review found that structured exercise programs improved heart rate regulation and quality of life for people with POTS, making it one of the most supported non-drug approaches.
• Medication options: Some doctors prescribe medicines to help with circulation or heart rate, but responses vary widely.

Because POTS affects people differently, it’s often trial and error. Tracking whether hydration reduces dizziness, or whether certain exercises help or worsen fatigue, can give you and your provider clearer insight into what’s actually working.

Lifestyle adjustments to counter POTS & autism

Simple daily changes can often make living with both POTS and autism a little easier. While strategies vary by person, a few approaches are commonly helpful:

Prioritizing rest and pacing

Both POTS and autism can bring fatigue. Planning breaks between activities and pacing physical effort helps conserve energy and avoid symptom flare-ups. Using Human Health’s routine tracker, you can schedule rest periods and see how energy levels shift throughout the day.

Creating sensory-friendly environments

For autistic individuals with POTS, environments that reduce sensory strain (such as dim lighting, quiet spaces, or weighted blankets) may ease recovery from dizziness or rapid heartbeat. Logging these adjustments in the app helps track which environments make symptoms less disruptive.

Staying hydrated and consistent

Hydration supports circulation in POTS, and consistency in daily routines helps reduce overwhelm in autism. Tracking hydration habits, mealtimes, and routines together in Human Health can show you how structure influences your overall well-being.

Small, consistent changes often have a big impact. By combining daily adjustments with symptom tracking, you can build a clearer picture of what supports your body best.

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

Living with POTS and autism can sometimes feel like navigating two different puzzles at once. One affects your body, the other your mind and senses. Put together, they can leave you second-guessing what is really going on.

That is where Human Health comes in. Each time you log a symptom, whether it is dizziness, fatigue, or sensory overload, you are capturing a piece of the bigger picture. Over days and weeks, those notes turn into patterns. You may notice that hydration steadies your energy, or that certain environments spark palpitations.

Instead of relying on memory, you walk into appointments with clear evidence in hand. You can show your doctor what has been happening, when it occurs, and in what context. That clarity puts you in control of the conversation and helps you advocate for the support you need.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Are people with autism more likely to have autonomic issues like POTS?

Research suggests autistic individuals may have higher rates of autonomic difficulties, including POTS, though more large-scale studies are still needed.

2. Can POTS symptoms mimic or worsen autistic traits?

Yes: dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and fatigue from POTS can heighten sensory overload or anxiety, making autistic traits like withdrawal or stimming more noticeable.

3. How can I help my doctor understand what I’m going through?

Tracking your daily symptoms and routines in Human Health, then sharing a PDF summary, can give your doctor a clear picture and improve care conversations.

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Sources:

1. National Library of Medicine: Autonomic Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder
2. National Library of Medicine: A Personalized Approach to Evaluating and Treating Autism Spectrum Disorder
3. Frontiers in Neurology: Impact of exercise to treat postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: a systematic review

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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.