Hi, friends! When I was first diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in 2019, my medical team at the Cleveland Clinic told me to incorporate four lifestyle changes to manage symptoms. These changes included:
- Increasing my fluid intake
- Eating a high-salt diet
- Wearing compression garments
- Exercising
In the years since my diagnosis, I’ve found products that are helpful in accomplishing all four of these goals for treating my POTS. I’ve also discovered other lifestyle products outside of these four areas that have been pivotal in improving my quality of life with this chronic condition. On this page, I’ll share all these product recommendations, along with other products that could be helpful to POTS patients — even if I don’t use them myself at this stage in my POTS management.
Remember, everyone experiences chronic illness differently, so what works well for me and my symptoms may not work well for you and yours. But I hope you find something on this page that makes your life with POTS a little easier. *Hugs.*
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You can also check out my Amazon Storefront to shop most of the items below.
Liquid IV Electrolytes
When it comes to electrolyte replenishers, Liquid IV has been my go-to product since my diagnosis. I’ve tried other options, but I keep coming back to Liquid IV because I love their flavors. My favorites are golden cherry and strawberry, but I also enjoy the orange vanilla flavor (it tastes just like a creamsicle!). Liquid IV even makes sugar-free flavors if you’re watching your sugar intake. I typically drink a third to a half packet most days and particularly after I exercise, during a POTS flare, and on hot days.
Shop Liquid I.V. here.
Smart Watches for Heart Rate Tracking
If you’ve read my POTS gift guide, you’ve seen my thoughts on Garmin and FitBit watches for people with POTS. To briefly reiterate here, if you’re an avid exerciser who works out regularly and wants features like setting personalized heart rate zones and workouts, then I’d recommend Garmin. My current watch is a Garmin Vivoactive 4s (pictured above). When I was running, I loved that I could set my heart rate zones so that the watch buzzed when my heart rate got too high. That way, I knew it was time to stop and walk — a valuable feature for someone exercising with POTS!
If you more so want a watch for tracking basic things like heart rate, sleep time and quality, and daily steps, a FitBit smartwatch might be a better option. Keep in mind: If you want more in-depth health tracking and exercise features, you’ll have to pay for a premium FitBit subscription.
Shop Garmin Vivoactive Smartwatch here.
Shop FitBit Inspire Smartwatch here.
Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap
Recommended by the Cleveland Clinic when I first went there, this chest strap monitor is the gold standard for precise, real-time heart rate data. This was also a tool I used when I was getting back into running with POTS. It helped me more precisely monitor my heart rate to avoid overworking myself, which can cause someone with POTS post-exertional fatigue.
Shop Polar H10 Chest Strap here.
VIM & VIGR Stylish Compression Socks
I absolutely LOVE my VIM & VIGR compression socks! I wear 15-20 mmHg for everyday use. On bad symptom days, I wear a pair of 20-30 mmHg. If you’re looking for compression socks with fun and fashionable patterns plus all the benefits of compression for POTS patients, then I highly recommend these socks. As you can see, I own multiple pairs, and they’ve held up well over the years I’ve had them.
Shop VIM & VIGR compression socks here.
Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Some POTS patients are sensitive to loud sounds and noisy environments. If this is you, then a quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones can help block out excess noise. I own a pair of these Soundcore headphones and wear them when I’m working a lot to help me focus and tune out distractions. As an added bonus, if you use them to listen to music, the audio quality is excellent.
Shop Soundcore Noise-Cancelling Headphones here.
CompressionZ High-Waisted Leggings
If you’re looking for an effective yet affordable pair of compression leggings, these CompressionZ leggings are a fantastic option. The high-waisted feature is important for POTS patients because it provides added compression in the abdominal area. Just a heads up: At first, the elastic waistband felt a little tight on me. (I bought a small—my usual size.) But once I started wearing them, the waistband got more comfortable, and it doesn’t bother me at all now. Another thing I love about these? The compression they provide helps with pain relief from my hips down to my calves. They’re also great to wear while traveling.
Shop CompressionZ Leggings here.
Vitassium Products
Vitassium offers a variety of products that can help people with POTS manage their symptoms. From their fast chews to their salt capsules and electrolyte powders, you’re sure to find an option that helps you get more sodium in your diet. I love their pink lemonade electrolyte powder, and it’s low in sugar.
Shop Vitassium Products here.
A Big Reusable Water Bottle
A large refillable water bottle is truly one of the most helpful products for POTS patients. We need to drink a ton of water each day. I find that it’s so much easier for me to hit my hydration goals if I have a large water bottle. The two HydroJugs I have (pictured above) are 32 oz. (pink) and 40 oz. (beige). That means I don’t have to worry about running out of water when I’m out running errands or at appointments, and when I’m home, I don’t need to refill my bottles as often. Plus, knowing how many ounces are in a full bottle helps me know how many full bottles I need to drink each day to get my fluids in for POTS management.
Shop HydroJug 32 oz. sport tumbler here.
(Please note: The color pictured above is a limited edition color and is no longer sold by HydroJug at the time of this writing. I linked a similar pink color.)
Under The Desk Pedal Exerciser & Stationary Bike
If exercise is difficult for you because of POTS, starting slowly with a mini exercise pedaler like this one can be a good starting point. Even doing a few minutes at a time can help you build exercise tolerance. As always, consult your doctor before starting a new exercise.
Shop Sunny Health & Fitness Pedal Exerciser here.
When you’ve gained more exercise tolerance, you can progress to an upright bike. Upright biking is the next step up from recumbent exercise (like swimming and recumbent biking) in the Levine Protocol for POTS patients. Stationary upright biking has been the primary way I’ve gotten cardio exercise for the last three winters I’ve lived in upstate New York.
Shop Schwinn Indoor Cycling Bike here.
Shower Bench
When I was healing from my pinched nerve injury and first sick with POTS symptoms (but not diagnosed yet), I used a shower bench because it was difficult for me to stand in hot showers. I made sure to buy one that had a long seat that fit inside and out of the tub (so I could slide in and out easily and not have to step out). I also bought one that had suction cups on the legs so that the bench stayed firmly in place. This option checks off both of these boxes!
Shop Medline Bench for Bathtub here.
Biofreeze Professional Pain Relief Gel
Biofreeze is one of my favorite products for natural pain relief. It works great to numb pain with an icy hot sensation, and I usually wear it before bed to help me sleep. (Who else hates it when pain keeps them up at night?) Check out other natural pain relief options in my post about chronic pain management.
Shop Biofreeze Professional Gel here.
Omron Gold Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
It’s not just important for POTS patients to monitor their heart rate, but also their blood pressure. If my blood pressure gets too low, that signals that I need to drink more fluids and eat more salt to raise it. But some POTS patients have high blood pressure, which also needs monitoring. I love using this wrist cuff because it’s more comfortable (I have small arms) and a convenient size for traveling.
Shop Omron Gold Blood Pressure Monitor here.
Chill Pal Cooling Towel
I bought this product to survive a heat wave rolling through when my husband and I moved out of New York City; our apartment didn’t have air conditioning! This cooling towel worked really well to keep to me from getting overheated, which can lead to lightheadedness and other POTS symptoms for me. All you have to do is get the towel wet and you have instant, cool relief. This would be great for any POTSie during the summer, for traveling, or even for after exercise.
Shop Chill Pal Cooling Towel here.
Elasto Gel Hot/Cold Wrap
This wrap is a necessity for icing after long hours spent on my feet. It’s also heavenly on hot days when my feet swell and ache from blood pooling. It sounds silly (and looks silly!) but I wrap it around my head on hot days, too, to help my body cool down. What can I say? POTS and the heat just don’t mix well!
Shop Elasto Gel Hot/Cold Wrap here.
Lightweight Folding Wheelchair
If you’re prone to fainting or have trouble with mobility, having a lightweight wheelchair on hand can help you get around safely. This one folds for easy storage and transport, so you can take it with you anywhere if you need it.
Shop Drive Medical Lightweight Wheelchair here.
Set of 5 Resistance Bands
I never used to use resistance bands seriously until I got POTS. Once I had a diagnosis and began more floor-based strength training and pilates, I incorporated them into my exercise routines. I’ve seen such a positive difference in my strength and visible muscle tone after using them consistently. Because this set comes in five different resistance levels, you can keep progressing and challenging your muscles as you get stronger.
Shop Fit Simplify Set of 5 Resistance Bands here.
Set of 6 Free Hand Dumbbells
I wish I knew about this set of dumbbells before I bought my 5lb and 8lb weights separately. Similar to the set of resistance bands, this set makes it easy to increase in weight when your muscles are ready for an added challenge. This is a good option for people who prefer to work out with free weights or who like to mix up their strength training routines.
Shop Dumbbell Free Hand Weight Set here.
Instant and Disposable Cold Packs
Having cold packs readily available — especially in the summer or if you live in a hot climate — can help you stay cool. Take these in your purse or day bag with your chronic illness essentials for fast and cool relief anywhere. As a reminder, heat is a POTS trigger because it can worsen blood pooling and dehydrate the body.
Shop Instant Cold Packs here.
I’ll update this page regularly, so be sure to check back!
XO,
Laurie
