Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
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 faint
- shortness of breath
- chest 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.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
You or someone else gets a fast heartbeat and:
- you have a fast heartbeat or heart palpitations that keeps happening or is getting worse
- it does not go back to normal after a few minutes
- you also have other symptoms such as feeling dizzy, sick or faint, shortness of breath or chest pain
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- you've been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and techniques you've been shown to stop a fast heartbeat are not working
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
If a GP thinks you could have a heart problem such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, they'll refer you to a heart specialist (cardiologist) for tests.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is usually diagnosed using an electrocardiogram (ECG), where sensors are put on your chest to check your heart while you're having symptoms.
Other tests you might need include:
- an exercise ECG, where your heart is checked while you use a treadmill or exercise bike
- wearing a small heart monitor for 24 hours or longer
- an ultrasound scan of your heart (echocardiogram)
- a test to look at how your heart works in more detail, by passing thin tubes (catheters) through a vein to your heart (an electrophysiological (EP) study)
Sometimes the condition is found in people who have no symptoms. This is called Wolff-Parkinson-White pattern.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is not usually serious. Many people only have mild symptoms. Sometimes symptoms improve or stop as you get older.
In rare cases, it causes a fast heartbeat that can be life-threatening. But if doctors think you're at risk then you'll be offered treatment to prevent this.
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.
Treatment to stop a fast heartbeat
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 rhythm
- a procedure that uses electricity to reset your heart rhythm (electrical cardioversion)
Treatment to prevent symptoms
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.
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.
If you or someone in your family lives with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, you can get support from charities:
