Katie Phillips, 26, from Southend, was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) after collapsing while running at university. The lifelong conditions affect heart rate and blood pressure, causing repeated fainting episodes. She now carries emergency salt sachets to manage symptoms.
Collapse at university
Katie was 21 when she blacked out during a run. She had been sent to A&E after visiting her GP with abnormal symptoms. Medics initially feared she had a blood clot in her lung or a heart condition. “After I had presented normally when they were running tests in A&E, and about to be discharged, the doctor looked at my blood test results and looked like he was panicking. He said it looked like I had either had a heart attack or was about to have one in the next 24 hours,” she said.
Life-changing diagnosis
Katie was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and POTS, conditions that cause poor communication between the nervous system and the heart. Her heart rate can jump from below 60 beats per minute to nearly 200. The symptoms forced her to give up sports she loved, including swimming, running, athletics, horse riding and horse archery. “I was always super sporty – swimming, athletics, running, horses and horse archery anything I could get involved in. But when I collapsed, everything escalated so quickly. I was only 21 and it was terrifying,” she said.
Setbacks and recovery
Katie suffered regular fainting spells and sudden heart rate changes. She developed sepsis after having a heart monitor fitted, delaying her recovery. With specialist support, she learned to manage her condition through pacing, hydration and a high-salt diet. “I have a very high salt intake. My body can't regulate temperature very well as a side effect of Vasovagal syncope and POTS and salt helps with that. I carry emergency sachets of salt around with me to consume if I start getting the shakes, a tell tale sign that my body is having to work harder to regulate its heart rate,” she said.
Major milestone
In 2026, Katie completed the London Landmarks Half Marathon, a significant achievement in her recovery. She hopes sharing her story encourages others to seek help. “I think it’s really important to trust your instincts. It’s easy to dismiss things as stress or anxiety, but sometimes your body is trying to tell you something. And no matter how difficult things feel, there is always hope,” she said.
