Understanding POTS and Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia refers to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which helps regulate heart rate, blood pressure, circulation, temperature control, digestion, and tolerance to standing.
POTS is one of the most common and recognized forms of dysautonomia.
Many patients experience dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, rapid heart rate, or exercise intolerance without a clear explanation. Understanding whether these symptoms are being driven by POTS, dysautonomia, or overlapping conditions is the first step toward a meaningful recovery plan.
Typically, patients with POTS and dysautonomia are told their symptoms are “normal,” anxiety-related, or something they simply have to live with. At NeuroSport, we evaluate these symptoms as possible signs of measurable autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
Our approach is different.
We use structured clinical evaluation, objective autonomic testing, and a systems-based model to identify what is driving your symptoms. This may include dysfunction of the neurocardiac axis, cervical spine involvement, post-concussion changes, deconditioning, or impaired volume regulation.
Care is guided by findings, not assumptions.
Specialized Care at NeuroSport
Care is led by William J. Moreau, DC, DACBSP, FACSM, with extensive experience in autonomic dysfunction, concussion, and complex neurologic presentations. NeuroSport focuses on structured evaluation and targeted rehabilitation of the autonomic nervous system.
At NeuroSport, we specialize in identifying and treating the underlying causes of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and dysautonomia.
Many patients we see have been told their symptoms are “normal,” anxiety-related, or something they simply have to live with. In reality, these symptoms often reflect measurable dysfunction within the autonomic nervous system.
Our approach is different.
We use structured, objective testing and a systems-based clinical model to identify what is actually driving your symptoms, whether that involves the neurocardiac axis, cervical spine dysfunction, post-concussion changes, or deconditioning.
Care is then guided by those findings, not assumptions.
Over 400 patients evaluated and treated for POTS and dysautonomia!
Who This Page Is For
NeuroSport’s POTS and dysautonomia care is designed for patients who need more than generic advice, reassurance, or symptom management.
This page is especially relevant if you:
Have dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, brain fog, or rapid heart rate when standing
Have been diagnosed with POTS or suspect dysautonomia
Have persistent symptoms after concussion, illness, surgery, prolonged inactivity, or stress-related physiologic disruption
Have not improved with standard care
Need objective autonomic testing and a structured recovery plan
Are looking for a clinical model that connects the brain, heart, cervical spine, and autonomic nervous system
This is not one-size-fits-all care. The goal is to identify the drivers of your symptoms and build a targeted plan based on your clinical findings.
Common Symptoms of Dysautonomia, Including POTS
Patients with POTS often experience a wide range of symptoms that can vary in severity and may fluctuate throughout the day.
Common Symptoms of Dysautonomia
Orthostatic: dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness
Cardiovascular: rapid heart rate, palpitations
Cognitive: brain fog, difficulty concentrating
Fatigue: low energy, exercise intolerance
Autonomic: temperature dysregulation, sweating abnormalities
What is Dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia refers to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, the system responsible for regulating essential body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, circulation, digestion, temperature control, and the body’s response to standing and activity.
The autonomic nervous system has three primary divisions:
• Sympathetic nervous system, responsible for activation and “fight or flight” responses
• Parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for recovery, regulation, and “rest and digest” function
• Enteric nervous system, which governs gastrointestinal function
When this system is not functioning properly, the body loses its ability to regulate these processes efficiently. As a result, patients may experience symptoms such as lightheadedness, rapid heart rate, fatigue, brain fog, heat intolerance, exercise intolerance, nausea, or abnormal sweating.
Dysautonomia is not a single diagnosis, but an umbrella term that includes multiple patterns of autonomic dysfunction. These include conditions such as POTS, orthostatic hypotension, vasovagal syncope, and post-concussion autonomic dysfunction.
What is POTS Within Dysautonomia?
POTS, or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, is a specific form of dysautonomia characterized by an excessive increase in heart rate when transitioning from lying down to standing.
Rather than functioning as an isolated condition, POTS reflects a breakdown in autonomic regulation, particularly involving the neurocardiac axis, the communication system between the brain, heart, and blood vessels that maintains circulation during changes in posture and activity. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a form of autonomic dysfunction that affects how the body regulates heart rate and blood flow when transitioning to an upright position.
When a healthy individual stands, the autonomic nervous system rapidly adjusts vascular tone and heart rate to maintain stable blood flow to the brain. In patients with POTS, this regulation is impaired. Blood may pool in the lower extremities and abdomen, reducing effective circulation and triggering a compensatory increase in heart rate.
This dysfunction can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, brain fog, palpitations, and exercise intolerance. These symptoms are often worsened by prolonged standing, heat, illness, or physical and cognitive exertion.
POTS is one of several patterns of dysautonomia. At NeuroSport, the focus is not only identifying POTS, but determining the underlying drivers of autonomic dysfunction, which may include post-concussion changes, impaired vascular regulation, deconditioning, or neurocardiac dysregulation..