Celebrities with POTS Syndrome: Stars Living with POTS

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a relatively rare condition, but it affects many people around the world – including some well-known celebrities. POTS is a form of dysautonomia that impacts the autonomic nervous system, leading to symptoms like rapid heartbeat upon standing, dizziness, fatigue, and fainting. It often goes unrecognized or misdiagnosed, so when public figures share their experiences with POTS, it helps raise awareness. Below, we highlight several celebrities (from the US, Europe, and beyond) who have POTS, along with their personal journeys and how they’ve brought attention to this syndrome.

Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel – entrepreneur, author, and TV personality best known from Real Housewives of New York – has been very open about her struggle with POTS. In 2023, Bethenny revealed via social media that her long-standing health issues were due to POTS, which had worsened after prolonged COVID-19 symptoms. She noted extreme dehydration and difficulty doing everyday tasks, and even addressed fans commenting on changes in her appearance. Bethenny shared that she’s “not doing that great” due to POTS, emphasizing how challenging the condition can be. Despite this, she uses her platform to educate others – for example, reminding fans never to judge or comment on someone’s physical appearance because you never know what health battles they may be fighting.

Halsey

The pop singer Halsey has long been open about various health challenges – and POTS is one of them. In 2022, after the birth of her son, Halsey was diagnosed with POTS, in addition to other conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and mast cell activation syndrome. In fact, Halsey later said she had been experiencing POTS symptoms for about 8 years before finally getting the diagnosis. Known for hit songs like “Bad at Love,” Halsey has used interviews and social media to discuss her health. She even released a song (“The Lighthouse”) alluding to her health struggles, and told fans she feels “lucky to be alive” after years of dealing with these issues. Halsey’s openness – from posting hospital videos to detailing symptoms – has shone a spotlight on POTS, especially among younger people who follow her.

Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson, a former child actress famous for Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, publicly shared her POTS diagnosis in 2021. After four years of unexplained dizziness and fainting, Mara finally learned she had POTS on July 30, 2021. Since then, she’s made lifestyle changes to manage the condition. For instance, Mara started wearing compression socks and cut out caffeine and alcohol to help reduce her symptoms. Her willingness to discuss these changes provides a practical insight into daily life with POTS. Mara has also emphasized the emotional relief of finally understanding what was behind years of symptoms, which is a sentiment many POTS patients share.

Nick Foles’ Wife – Tori Moore

Tori Moore, a former college volleyball player and wife of NFL quarterback Nick Foles, has also battled POTS. Tori was diagnosed back in 2013 after episodes of extreme dizziness that at times left her unable to get out of bed. Since her diagnosis, Tori and Nick Foles have been active in raising awareness. The couple has spoken publicly about POTS and supported organizations that help patients get proper diagnosis and treatment. Tori Moore’s story is a reminder that POTS can strike anyone – even young, athletic individuals – and that support from family (in her case, a pro athlete spouse) can make a big difference in coping with a chronic illness.

Greg Page

Australian singer Greg Page, best known as the original Yellow Wiggle from the children’s group The Wiggles, lived with mysterious symptoms for over a decade. Back in 2006, Greg had to retire from performing after frequent fainting spells, slurred speech, tremors, and fatigue severely affected him on stage. It wasn’t until later that he learned POTS was the culprit – in fact, doctors suspect his POTS was triggered by health issues in 2005, but he had unknowingly been suffering for 12 years. Greg Page eventually returned for occasional performances and has used his platform in Australia to highlight POTS and dysautonomia, helping others who might have similar symptoms seek answers.

Adam Jacobs

Adam Jacobs is a UK-born international photographer who dealt with puzzling health problems from his late teens. He experienced intense migraines, light sensitivity (having to wear sunglasses indoors), and could hardly tolerate noise – at one point needing absolute quiet around him. For five years, no one could figure out the cause. Adam moved to the US and finally, after numerous tests, he was diagnosed with POTS in his mid-20s. His story shows how frustrating the diagnostic odyssey can be. Since his diagnosis, Adam has shared his journey to help demystify POTS, explaining that understanding the condition allowed him to slowly regain a normal life.

Sophie Hillyerd

Sophie Hillyerd is an English athlete – a goalkeeper for West Ham’s women’s football (soccer) youth team – who developed POTS symptoms after a COVID-19 infection in 2021. At just 20 years old, Sophie noticed her heart would race upon standing, and she had severe chest pains, dizziness, and near-fainting episodes. Doctors soon diagnosed her with POTS, potentially triggered by the viral infection. With treatment and adjustments, Sophie managed her condition and was impressively back to training just three months after diagnosis. Her case has been highlighted in sports communities, illustrating that even young athletes can face POTS, especially in the context of post-viral syndromes (long COVID).

Brittany Murphy (In Remembrance)

Hollywood actress Brittany Murphy, who tragically died in 2009, was never diagnosed with POTS in her lifetime. However, in a later interview, her half-brother revealed that Brittany had dysautonomia, the umbrella term for autonomic nervous system disorders, of which POTS is one form. He noted that several women in their family, as well as he himself, also have this condition. Brittany’s case is often cited in POTS discussions, because it suggests that the actress’s well-publicized bout of drastic weight loss in the early 2000s might have been related to an undiagnosed dysautonomia (which can cause appetite and gastrointestinal issues). While we can’t know all the details, the mention of Brittany Murphy underscores that POTS and related conditions were likely affecting celebrities even before the term was well-known.

Nicole O’Hara

Nicole O’Hara is an American television news presenter (Spectrum News) who shared her POTS journey publicly. Nicole’s symptoms began around mid-2020 – she experienced episodes of dizziness and heart palpitations – but it took until March 2021 to get a definitive POTS diagnosis at the Mayo Clinic. In the interim, she had multiple cardiologist visits with no answers. Her persistence in seeking specialized care paid off. Nicole has since advocated for patients to trust their instincts: if you feel something is wrong, keep pushing for answers. She highlights the importance of finding knowledgeable specialists for conditions like POTS.

Why Celebrity POTS Stories Matter

When celebrities and public figures talk about having POTS, it brings much-needed attention to a condition that is often misunderstood or overlooked. Many POTS patients go through years of symptoms before getting diagnosed, and hearing about well-known individuals with similar struggles can be validating. It also educates the public that POTS is a real, physiological condition – not “just feeling dizzy” or “in your head.” For instance, these stories show common POTS themes: symptoms can worsen after events like viral illness (as in Sophie Hillyerd’s case) or pregnancy (as Halsey experienced), and lifestyle adjustments (compression garments, hydration, diet changes, etc.) often play a role in management.

Additionally, some celebs tie POTS to broader issues. For example, POTS is sometimes seen alongside other conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (as with Halsey) or autoimmune disorders. Reality TV star Yolanda Hadid (mother of models Gigi and Bella Hadid) has spoken about chronic Lyme disease triggering dysautonomia/POTS-like symptoms. By sharing these stories, public figures help foster research interest and compassion for those with “invisible” illnesses.

The Takeaway

Living with POTS can be challenging – it often affects daily life, from simply standing up to exercising or performing on stage. The celebrities mentioned above show that POTS does not discriminate: it affects people of all backgrounds, ages, and professions. Their openness provides hope and awareness. Many have used their platforms to call for more research and better understanding. For instance, their social media updates and interviews educate fans that constant fatigue or fainting isn’t laziness – it’s a medical condition that deserves support and treatment.

If you or someone you know is dealing with unexplained dizziness, rapid heart rate upon standing, or similar symptoms, these stories illustrate the importance of seeking medical advice. With specialists (like cardiologists or neurologists familiar with autonomic disorders), POTS can be diagnosed via tests (e.g., a tilt-table test) and managed with strategies ranging from increased salt and fluid intake to medications and physical therapy.

In summary, celebrities with POTS syndrome have turned their personal health challenges into teachable moments for the world. They inspire fellow patients to persevere and encourage the medical community to pay attention to this often misunderstood syndrome. As awareness grows, we can hope for better treatments – and perhaps one day, a cure – for POTS.

FAQs – celebrities with pots syndrome

What is POTS?

POTS is a nervous system disorder that causes rapid heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue when standing. It’s often misdiagnosed but can be life-disrupting.

Which celebrities have POTS?

Stars like Halsey, Bethenny Frankel, and Mara Wilson have opened up about living with POTS, helping raise awareness and reduce stigma.

Why does celebrity awareness matter?

When public figures share their stories, it helps others feel seen, encourages diagnosis, and pushes for better research and understanding.