Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome
(Redirected from WPW)
- Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome is a condition involving the heart.
- Electrical signals in the heart usually travel along certain pathways to tell the heart to beat regularly.
- People with WPW syndrome are born with an extra electrical pathway that changes the way these signals travel.
Cause[edit | edit source]
WPW is caused by the presence of an abnormal pathway between the atria and the ventricles.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
- Symptoms of the arrhythmia that occur in WPW syndrome may include palpitations, chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or faintness.
- Some people experience few to no symptoms. Others may have symptoms twice a week or more often.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
- Most people with WPW syndrome do not have any other heart problems.
- Sometimes WPW syndrome is diagnosed during a routine test for heart disease, such as an electrocardiogram.
- Your doctor may recommend testing for WPW syndrome if you have atrial fibrillation, known as A-fib, or a family history of WPW syndrome.
- You may be asked to wear a Holter or event monitor that records your heart’s electrical activity while you do your normal activities.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
- If your doctor diagnoses you with WPW syndrome, you may need medicine to control or prevent a fast heartbeat.
- If medicine does not work, you may need an electrical shock to the heart to restore its rhythm.
- Catheter ablation is another treatment that can cure WPW syndrome in most people.
- If untreated, WPW syndrome can cause the heart to beat much faster than it should, which is called tachycardia, and it can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
Sudden cardiac death in people with WPW is rare but some people may experience low blood pressure with WPW.
- Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? WikiMD's DocFinder can help with millions of doctors!
This article is a stub. Help WikiMD grow by registering to expand it. |
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD