- ME/CFS stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. It is characterized by debilitating fatigue and cognitive impairments (often called “brain fog”) that can severely limit or prevent everyday activities.
- POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, is a condition in which the heart rate sharply increases—often exceeding 100 beats per minute—with even the slightest shifts in body position, particularly when moving from lying down to sitting or standing. There is currently no cure for either of these disabling conditions, but symptoms can sometimes be managed with medical care, lifestyle adjustments, and other supportive therapies.
COVID-19 can seriously affect the body’s autonomic nervous system, which controls things like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. Many people develop POTS within 6 to 8 months after infection. A large number of COVID-19 survivors also develop ME/CFS. These conditions can often occur side by side, further supporting the ongoing evidence that COVID-19 can trigger lasting and serious health issues. Read more below.
* Indicates peer-reviewed studies
* Incidence and Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Report from the Observational RECOVER-Adult Study JGIM Volume 40, Pages 1085-1094. Vernon, S.D., Zheng, T., Do, H. et al. January 13, 2025
* COVID-19 Induced Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): A Review Cureus, PMC10065129. Mallick, D, Goyal, L, et al. March 31, 2023
* Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After SARS-CoV-2 Infection JAMA Network Vol 7, No 7. Unger ER, Lin JS, Wisk LE, et al.July 24, 2024
* Post-COVID Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): A New Phenomenon Frontiers In Neurology, PMC10998446. Cantrell C, Reid C, et al. March 22, 2024
* COVID-Long Haulers Can Develop POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) with Small Fiber Neuropathy and Abnormal Autonomic Testing (P17-1.005) Neurology Journals. Christopher Cantrell and Robert Wilson. May 3, 2022
* Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence and Prevalence of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome EHJ-QCCO. Dulal,D, Maraey, A et al. January 7, 2025
* The Persistence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Journal of Infection Volume 89, Issue 6. Dhelia, A, Guthridge, M.A. December, 2024
* ME/CFS and Long COVID Share Similar Symptoms and Biological Abnormalities: Road Map to the Literature Frontiers in Medicine, Volume 10. Anthony L. Komaroff, W. Ian Lipkin. June 1, 2023
1 in 20 COVID Survivors May Have Condition Characterized by Extreme Fatigue CIDRAP. Mary Van Beusekom, MS. January 15, 2025.
COVID-19 and POTS: Is There a Link? Johns Hopkins Medicine. Tae Ching, M.D. January 8, 2025.