Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Diagnosing WPW syndrome
Ifyour doctorthinks you might haveWPW syndrome after assessing your symptoms, they'll probably recommendhaving an electrocardiogram (ECG) and will refer you to acardiologist (heart specialist).
An ECG is a test that records your heart's rhythm and electrical activity. Small discs called electrodes arestuck onto your arms, legs and chest and connectedby wires to an ECG machine. The machine records the tiny electrical signals produced by yourhearteach time it beats.
If you have WPW syndrome, the ECG willrecord an unusual pattern that isn't usually present in people who don't have the condition.
To confirm the diagnosis, you may beasked to wear a small portable ECG recorder so your heart rhythm can be recorded during an episode. The recorderwill trace your heart rate continuously over a few days, or when you switch it on at the startof an episode.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, a heart condition that can cause the heart to beat abnormally fast. Find out about the symptoms, causes and treatments.
Is it serious?
It can be scary to be told that you have a problem with your heart, but WPW syndrome usually isn't serious. Many people will have no symptoms or only experience occasional, mild episodes of their hear
Symptoms of WPW syndrome
If you have WPW syndrome, you'll experience episodes where your heart suddenly starts racing, before stopping or slowing down abruptly. This rapid heart rate is called supraventricular tachycardia (SV
When to seek medical advice
If you haven't been diagnosed with WPW syndrome, you should contact your GP or call NHS 111 as soon as possible if your heart startsbeating unusually fast and you have any of the above symptoms. Dial
What causes WPW syndrome?
When the heart beats, its muscular walls contract (tighten and squeeze) to force blood out and around the body. They then relax, allowing the heart to fill with blood again. This is controlled by elec
Diagnosing WPW syndrome
Ifyour doctorthinks you might haveWPW syndrome after assessing your symptoms, they'll probably recommendhaving an electrocardiogram (ECG) and will refer you to acardiologist (heart specialist). An ECG
Treatments for WPW syndrome
In many cases, episodes of abnormal heart activity associated with WPW syndrome are harmless, don't last long, and settle down on their own without treatment. You may therefore not need any treatment
Information about you
If you have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scient
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