Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a rare congenital heart condition, meaning it is present at birth but people may never show symptoms, or they may only start in old age. People with this condition have an extra electrical connection in their heart.
This extra pathway creates a “short circuit” and extra signalling which affects how the heart beats. This can cause tachycardia, but not in all patients as having the extra pathway without tachycardia is known as Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern instead of syndrome.
The British Heart Foundation notes that while the syndrome is rare, affecting up to three people out of 1,000, but “many healthy young adults get diagnosed with it”. It affects everyone differently and those that do have symptoms might experience them for just seconds a few times a year or it can last for hours every day.
These symptoms include:
- Palpitations, which may feel like a pounding or fluttering in your chest or neck
- Dizziness, light-headedness or fainting feeling
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling anxious
- Sweating
- Chest pain or discomfort
Symptoms can sometimes be triggered by things like exercise, stress, caffeine or drinking alcohol. The foundation urges people who experience a fast or noticeable heartbeat to see their GP.
They also warn people who have been diagnosed with the syndrome to call 999 if they start to experience an episode and none of their medications or techniques are working. Treatment for the condition focuses on treating the symptoms and there is no cure.
This means people with WPW pattern may not need treatment at all but others may need to have surgery to destroy the extra short circuit in their heart. If Wolff-Parkinson-Syndrome is diagnosed in your younger years it may even improve or completely disappear as you age without treatment but it’s best to follow the guidance from your own medical team.
While the condition can sound scary, the BHF assures it “usually isn’t serious”. However, it might also be diagnosed alongside another condition called Atrial Fibrillation.
This combination increases your risk of having a very fast heartbeat to the point that it becomes life-threatening if it isn’t treated. The charity reassuringly added: “But this is rare. People in high risk jobs, like a pilot or a professional athlete, and people at risk of a life-threatening rhythm may be offered treatment to lower their risk.”