POTS
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Technology & Computing |
POTS has two meanings. It stands for Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (cardiology) or Plain old telephone service (telecom).
Meanings of POTS at a glance
| # | POTS stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome | Medical › Cardiology |
| 2 | Plain old telephone service | Technology & Computing › Telecom |
1. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Chronic disorder in which heart rate rises by 30 beats per minute or more (40 in adolescents) within ten minutes of standing, without a significant drop in blood pressure, accompanied by dizziness, palpitations, fatigue and brain fog. Most patients are women aged 15 to 50.
Example: Tilt-table test: HR rose from 72 to 128 within 6 minutes without hypotension, consistent with POTS.
Pronounced "pots." It often begins after a viral infection, pregnancy, surgery or trauma, and public awareness grew when many people developed POTS-like symptoms after COVID-19. Management includes more fluid and salt, compression garments, graded recumbent exercise and medicines such as beta-blockers, fludrocortisone, midodrine or ivabradine. It is a form of dysautonomia managed by cardiologists or neurologists.
2. Plain old telephone service
Technology & Computing · Telecom Abbreviations
Traditional analog voice service delivered over copper telephone lines, powered from the telephone exchange so that phones work during local power outages. Many alarm systems, fax machines and elevator phones still rely on it.
Example: The rural clinic keeps a POTS line because it works when the power is out.
The exchange supplies about 48 volts DC over the copper pair, which is why corded phones need no plug. US regulators have allowed carriers to retire copper networks, and POTS replacement services use VoIP or cellular adapters, which need backup batteries. The acronym is used half-jokingly in the industry.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- PEA – Pulseless electrical activity
- PFO – Patent foramen ovale
- PMI – Point of maximal impulse
- POBA – Plain old balloon angioplasty
- PPM – Permanent pacemaker
- PS – Pulmonic stenosis
- PSVT – Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
- PTA – Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
More telecom abbreviations
- OTT – Over-the-top
- PAYG – Pay as you go
- PBX – Private branch exchange
- PON – Passive optical network
- PSTN – Public switched telephone network
- PTT – Push-to-talk
- PUK – PIN Unblocking Key
- QAM – Quadrature amplitude modulation
See all 114 telecom abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.