Munaeem's Blog

  Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a type of heart problem present at birth (congenital heart defect)   1 .  It is characterized by an extra electrical pathway between the heart's upper and lower chambers, which causes a rapid heartbeat 1 3 .  WPW syndrome is fairly rare, but it is one of the most common causes of fast heart rate problems in infants and children 11 15 . Symptoms The most common sign of WPW syndrome is a rapid heartbeat 1 .  Episodes can last for seconds, minutes, hours, or, in rare cases, days 3 .  Other symptoms may include chest pain, palpitations, difficulty breathing, pounding heartbeat, pulse that's too fast to count, and reduced ability to tolerate activity 3 . Diagnosis If you have a fast heartbeat, your healthcare provider will likely recommend tests to check for WPW syndrome, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a Holter monitor, an event recorder, or an electrophysiological (EP) study 4 .  An ECG is a quick and p...