TL;DR: Heat makes POTS worse for most people, which is why summer, hot showers and warm rooms can be genuinely miserable. Heat widens your blood vessels, which worsens the blood pooling and low blood volume already behind POTS, so your heart races harder and dizziness and fatigue spike. You cannot avoid heat entirely, but staying cool, pre-cooling, keeping fluids and salt up, using cooling aids, and pacing around the hottest hours all help a lot.
"Summer POTS tip: slushies!" is a real, beloved piece of community advice, because heat intolerance is one of the most consistent parts of POTS. If hot weather flattens you, you are not being dramatic. Here is why heat hits so hard and what genuinely helps, based on Dysautonomia International and standard POTS guidance.
Why does heat make POTS worse?
Heat causes your blood vessels to widen (dilate). For most people that is fine, but in POTS it worsens the blood pooling and already-low blood volume that drive your symptoms. Your heart then races even harder to keep blood reaching your brain. Add the fluid you lose through sweating, and dehydration tips things further. The result is more dizziness, racing heart, fatigue and brain fog.
Why hot showers are surprisingly hard
A lot of people are caught out by showers. Standing still in hot water combines heat, blood pooling and being upright, a perfect storm for POTS. Many people switch to cooler showers, sit on a shower stool, or shower at cooler times of day to manage it.
Stay ahead of the heat
Pre-cooling and pre-hydrating help more than reacting once you are already overheating. Drink extra fluids and electrolytes before going out, plan errands for cooler mornings or evenings, and rest in the shade or air conditioning when you can. Treat a hot day like any other flare trigger and lower your expectations for it.
Cooling tools that help
Practical cooling is your friend. Cold drinks and the famous slushies, cooling towels or a cold gel mask on the neck or face, fans, cold water on the wrists, and lightweight breathable clothing all help bring your temperature down. Some people keep a cold drink by the bed and sip before getting up.
Keep up fluids, salt and compression
Because heat worsens dehydration and pooling, the usual POTS basics matter even more in summer: keep fluids and electrolytes up (as advised by your doctor) and wear compression. Our compression calf socks help reduce the lower-body pooling that heat makes worse, and we cover the wider routine in our POTS daily tips.
Heat days are draining, and recovery matters as much as getting through them. On the days summer wins, our POTS comfort collection is here to help you cool down and rest. Comfort, never a cure.
Frequently asked questions
Why does heat make POTS worse?
Heat widens blood vessels, worsening the blood pooling and low blood volume behind POTS, so the heart races harder and dizziness and fatigue increase. Sweating adds dehydration.
Why are hot showers hard with POTS?
They combine heat, standing still and blood pooling, which can trigger dizziness or near-fainting. Cooler showers, a shower stool or cooler times of day help.
How do I cope with POTS in summer?
Stay cool and hydrated, pre-cool and pre-hydrate, plan around the hottest hours, use cooling aids, keep up salt and compression, and rest more.
Do cold drinks help POTS?
Many people find cold drinks and even slushies help, both by cooling the body and adding fluid. Cold water can give a quick, temporary symptom boost.
Does POTS get worse in the heat for everyone?
Heat intolerance is very common in POTS, though severity varies. Most people find hot weather and hot environments worsen their symptoms.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Talk to your doctor about managing POTS, fluids and salt. Sources: Dysautonomia International, Cleveland Clinic, NHS.
Written by the Soft Days team, a small brand built by a family that lives with chronic illness. Last updated June 2026.