Understanding Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome: Symptoms & Causes

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is characterized by tachycardia (a rapid heartbeat). Individuals with WPW have an additional electrical pathway, which causes an unusually fast heartbeat. Typically, persons with WPW are born with the syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, "episodes of a fast heartbeat often first appear when people are in their teens or early 20s. "

Symptoms

• Symptoms of WPW may including palpitations, dizziness, feelings of anxiety, fainting and lightheadedness.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis typically begins with an electrocardiogram (ECG) test. An ECG can determine when the heart has an additional electrical pathway.

ECG

• If your ECG determines you have an additional electrical pathway, your doctor may want to monitor your heart for a short or extended period of time. He may ask you to use a portable heart monitor or ECG while at home.

Holter Monitor

• A portable Holter monitor is a pocket-sized device that is used to monitor and record your heart rate for a 24-hour period.

Event Recorder

• An event recorder, also a small portable heart monitor, is sometimes used to record your heart activity for an extended period of time. This manual device requires the user to press a button when the heart begins to beat abnormally. The device then records the abnormal rhythm for your physician to read and interpret later.