For most people, standing up costs nothing. For someone with PoTS, it comes with a charge every time, paid in a racing heart and lightheadedness. The NHS describes PoTS as a heart rate increase after getting up from sitting or lying down, and notes that it can take time to diagnose because the symptoms look like other conditions.
Most people with PoTS look well, so the people around them rarely see what's happening. That gap between how PoTS looks and how it feels is the reason PoTS Awareness Day exists, and it's why awareness can shorten the road to a diagnosis.
We'll start with what the day is and when it falls in 2026, then explain what PoTS does to the body. After that, we share what we've done at Main Squeeze to support the PoTS community. By the end, you'll have a short list of things you can do before 25th October that help people with PoTS get taken seriously.
What is PoTS Awareness Day?
PoTS Awareness Day is a yearly UK awareness day for postural tachycardia syndrome. It’s run by PoTS UK, the national charity for the condition, which held its first awareness day in 2019 and has grown every year since. The goal is for people with PoTS to be believed and diagnosed sooner.
The charity started small. PoTS UK began as a Facebook group in 2010, and until 2015 three volunteer trustees did all of its work. These days, Awareness Day is the most visible moment of the year.
When is PoTS Awareness Day 2026?
PoTS Awareness Day 2026 falls on Sunday 25th October. The date stays the same every year, so you can plan for it well in advance.
The day sits inside a whole month of activity. Because October is Dysautonomia Awareness Month, PoTS UK raises awareness every day of the month, with the 25th as the high point. If your social feeds have turned purple lately, that’s why.
Is it PoTS or POTS?
Both are correct, and they describe the same condition. The NHS calls it postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) and notes it’s also known as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). UK charities and clinicians tend to write “PoTS”, whilst US sources usually use “POTS”. People also search for “POTS syndrome”, which means the same thing.
What is Dysautonomia Awareness Month?
Dysautonomia Awareness Month is held every October to raise awareness of conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system. That’s the part of your nervous system that runs things you never think about, like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and body temperature. PoTS is one of the more common types of dysautonomia, which is why PoTS Awareness Day was placed inside the month.
So when people search for “POTS awareness month”, they almost always mean October. In the UK, the month works as the run-up, and PoTS Awareness Day on 25th October is the main event.
What is PoTS?
PoTS is a condition where your heart rate rises abnormally when you stand up. The NHS describes it as a heart rate increase after getting up from sitting or lying down, often making you feel dizzy or lightheaded. When a healthy body stands, blood vessels in the legs tighten within seconds to stop blood pooling. In PoTS, that adjustment doesn’t work properly, so blood gathers in the lower body, and the heart speeds up to make up for it.
Symptoms that come on when standing can include dizziness, palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, shaking and sweating, and fainting or nearly fainting. Many people also deal with extreme tiredness, digestive problems, headaches and brain fog. Symptoms are often worse in the morning and can change from day to day.
The NHS lists several triggers that can make symptoms worse, including getting too hot, standing or sitting upright for long periods, eating carbohydrates, not drinking enough fluids and being on your period. You may also be more likely to have PoTS if you have long COVID, ME/CFS, or joint hypermobility syndrome.
How is PoTS different from orthostatic hypotension?
PoTS and orthostatic hypotension both cause symptoms on standing, but they show up differently on a monitor. In PoTS, the heart rate climbs sharply. In orthostatic hypotension, blood pressure drops. The two get mixed up a lot, and some people have features of both, so your GP is the right person to tell them apart. If blood pressure drops are your main concern, our guide to compression socks for orthostatic hypotension covers that condition in detail.
Why does PoTS awareness matter?
PoTS awareness matters because the condition is easy to miss and easy to dismiss. Most people with PoTS look well. There’s usually nothing to see, so a racing heart in a supermarket queue gets put down to nerves or being unfit.
That invisibility slows down diagnosis too. The NHS says “it can take time for people to be diagnosed with PoTS”, because the symptoms overlap with other conditions. PoTS UK describes PoTS as underrecognised and commonly misdiagnosed. For many people, that means a long stretch of being told they’re anxious or just run down.
Awareness campaigns are starting to change that. In October 2025, Cat Smith MP secured a 30-minute Westminster Hall debate on support for people with PoTS, after PoTS UK had campaigned alongside her for several years for better NHS services. Debates like that come after years of people sharing their stories and asking to be heard.
How does Main Squeeze support PoTS awareness?
Brands like Main Squeeze can help bring visibility to a condition that’s too often stigmatised and misunderstood. A big share of the people who wear our socks live with PoTS, and we’ve heard their stories for years. Some told us about nearly fainting on the Tube. Others left jobs that kept them on their feet all day, and plenty spent months waiting for someone to take their symptoms seriously.
So we’ve tried to create spaces where people with PoTS can meet and talk, away from waiting rooms.
Main Squeeze’s yoga sessions
We’ve hosted yoga sessions designed with PoTS in mind. The pace was slow, and most of the practice happened seated or on the floor, so nobody had to choose between joining in and staying upright. Gentle exercise is something the NHS suggests for people with PoTS, and it’s much easier to try in a room where nobody blinks if you need to lie down.
Main Squeeze’s watercolour events
We’ve also hosted watercolour events, planned so everyone could stay seated the whole time. The watercolour events gave people something to do with their hands whilst the conversation drifted to diagnosis stories, symptom tips and the odd experience of looking fine whilst feeling awful.
We’d love to keep these going. If you’d like to hear about future events, keep an eye on our blog and social channels.
How can you get involved in PoTS Awareness Day?
You can get involved in PoTS Awareness Day by learning about the condition and helping other people learn about it too.
Most of these ideas take a few minutes:
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Reshare a post on 25th October. PoTS UK shares awareness content throughout the month, and a quick share puts PoTS in front of people who’ve never heard of it.
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Look out for purple landmarks. Since 2019, a growing number of UK buildings have lit up purple for the Light Up for PoTS campaign. Check whether one near you is taking part, or ask a local business to join in.
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Wear something purple on the 25th. A jumper or a ribbon is enough to start a conversation.
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Donate to or fundraise for PoTS UK. It’s a small charity, and October donations help fund its peer support groups and campaigning.
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Ask a friend with PoTS what a bad day looks like for them, then believe what they tell you.
If you live with PoTS yourself, sharing your story can help someone still searching for a diagnosis recognise their own symptoms. Only do it if you feel comfortable, and on your own terms.
Do compression socks help with PoTS?
Compression socks can help some people with PoTS by reducing how much blood pools in the legs when they stand. The NHS lists support tights or stockings among the first lifestyle changes a GP or specialist may suggest, alongside drinking more fluids and eating small meals with fewer carbohydrates.
Graduated compression works a bit like squeezing a tube of toothpaste from the bottom. Pressure is firmest at the ankle and eases off towards the knee, which encourages blood to travel back up instead of settling in your lower legs. Our knee-high compression socks deliver 15-20 mmHg of graduated compression and are registered with the MHRA, the UK’s medical device regulator.
Compression socks won’t cure PoTS, and knee-highs aren’t enough for everyone. Some people are advised to wear firmer or longer garments that also cover the thighs and tummy. Our guide to compression socks for PoTS syndrome goes into compression levels, lengths, and the research in much more depth.
Is it safe to wear compression socks if you have PoTS?
Compression socks are safe for most people with PoTS when they fit properly, but they aren’t right for everyone. Speak to your GP before you start if you have peripheral arterial disease, numbness or reduced feeling in your feet and legs, broken skin or a skin infection on your lower legs, or a heart condition such as heart failure. Our guide on who should not wear compression socks explains each of these in more detail.
Fit matters as much as pressure. A sock that’s too tight can dig in at the top and restrict blood flow, whilst one that’s too loose won’t give you much support. It’s worth taking five minutes to measure for compression socks in the morning, when your legs are at their smallest.
Take them off and speak to your GP or pharmacist if you notice tingling, numbness, colour changes in your toes or marks that don’t fade within an hour. If you’ve only just been diagnosed, bring up compression at your next GP appointment so it fits in with the rest of your treatment.
Frequently asked questions
What colour is PoTS awareness?
In the UK, the PoTS community uses purple, which is why buildings light up purple on 25th October. Internationally, Dysautonomia International uses turquoise for Dysautonomia Awareness Month. You’ll often see both colours during October.
Who started PoTS Awareness Day?
PoTS Awareness Day was started by the UK charity PoTS UK. The first one took place in 2019, and it has grown each year since. The charity still leads the day and shares resources for anyone who wants to take part.
Can PoTS be cured?
There’s currently no cure for PoTS, but symptoms can be managed. The NHS says PoTS can be managed with lifestyle changes or medicines. Finding the right mix can take time, so it helps to work closely with your GP or specialist.
What should you do if you think you have PoTS?
See your GP if you get dizzy, feel lightheaded or notice a racing heart when you stand up. According to the NHS, a GP may check your blood pressure and heart rate before and after you stand, which is called an active stand test when it’s repeated several times. A short diary of when your symptoms happen can make that appointment more useful.
What can you do if you feel faint with PoTS?
Lie down and raise your legs if you can. If you can’t lie down, the NHS suggests crossing your legs whilst standing, rocking up and down on your toes, clenching your buttocks and tummy muscles, or clenching your fists. These moves help push blood back up towards your heart and brain.
Mark PoTS Awareness Day with us this October
PoTS Awareness Day falls on 25th October, in the middle of Dysautonomia Awareness Month. It exists because PoTS is common but slow to diagnose, and every share and honest conversation helps more people get taken seriously.
Pick one thing from the list above and do it before the 25th. If you live with PoTS and compression is part of your routine, start by measuring your ankle and calf, then choose your size in our MHRA-registered knee-high compression socks. They give 15-20 mmHg of graduated compression, and two pairs ship free in the UK, so there’s always a fresh pair waiting by the bed.
