Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Overview
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a heart condition that can cause a very fast heartbeat. It's not usually serious but you may need treatment if symptoms are affecting your life.
Symptoms
The main symptom of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is suddenly getting a very fast heartbeat. This can last from a few seconds to several hours, and usually stops by itself. How often you get a fast heartbeat varies between people, and can range from every day to a few times a year or less. When this happens you may get symptoms such as: a fluttering feeling in your chest or your heartbeat pounding, racing or going too slowly (heart palpitations)feeling dizzy or faintshortness of breathchest pain or discomfort Symptoms usually start in adults aged between 30 and 50, but it can happen at any age. Some people with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome do not have any symptoms. Sometimes it's found when you have tests for another reason. If you keep getting symptoms or if you’re at risk of having a very fast heartbeat that becomes life-threatening, you may be offered treatment to prevent symptoms. The main treatment is a procedure to burn or freeze a small section of your heart (cardiac ablation). This usually works well to stop you having symptoms. Your doctor may advise you to avoid things that could trigger your symptoms, such as alcohol, caffeine or intense exercise. Other treatments you might be offered include medicines to help control your heart rate.
Causes
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome happens when you're born with a problem with the electrical connections in your heart. Usually this happens by chance. In rare cases it's passed on from a parent to a child (inherited). It's more common in men and in people with other heart conditions.
Treatment
Treatment for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome depends on your symptoms and if your heart specialist (cardiologist) thinks you're at high risk of serious problems. You might not need any treatment if you have no symptoms, or mild symptoms that only happen rarely. There are some treatments that can help when you’re having symptoms. Doctors may teach you techniques that can stop your heart from beating too fast (vagal manoeuvres). These include things like coughing, breathing techniques or putting very cold water on your face. If these techniques do not work, you may need: an injection of medicine into a vein to reset your heart rhythma procedure that uses electricity to reset your heart rhythm (electrical cardioversion) If you keep getting symptoms or if you’re at risk of having a very fast heartbeat that becomes life-threatening, you may be offered treatment to prevent symptoms. The main treatment is a procedure to burn or freeze a small section of your heart (cardiac ablation). This usually works well to stop you having symptoms. Your doctor may advise you to avoid things that could trigger your symptoms, such as alcohol, caffeine or intense exercise. Other treatments you might be offered include medicines to help control your heart rate.
Prevention
If you keep getting symptoms or if you’re at risk of having a very fast heartbeat that becomes life-threatening, you may be offered treatment to prevent symptoms. The main treatment is a procedure to burn or freeze a small section of your heart (cardiac ablation). This usually works well to stop you having symptoms. Your doctor may advise you to avoid things that could trigger your symptoms, such as alcohol, caffeine or intense exercise. Other treatments you might be offered include medicines to help control your heart rate.