Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (pre-excitation)

For a lay person:

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a heart condition present from birth, in which an extra electrical pathway connects the upper and lower chambers. This can cause sudden episodes of a very fast heartbeat. Many people have no symptoms, and it is often first found on an ECG.

For a trained medical person:

An accessory atrioventricular pathway produces ventricular pre-excitation (short PR interval, delta wave) and predisposes to atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia, and rarely to rapid conduction of atrial fibrillation leading to ventricular fibrillation. Diagnosis is by ECG, ambulatory monitoring and electrophysiological study for risk stratification. Catheter ablation of the pathway is the definitive treatment; AV-nodal blocking drugs should be avoided in pre-excited atrial fibrillation.

In Chinese medicine:

Liu and Tseng's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Liver Qi Stagnation; Phlegm Fire Disturbing the Heart; Both Qi and Yin Deficiency. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Get emergency care for a racing heartbeat with fainting, chest pain or breathlessness. Avoid stimulant herbs such as ephedra (Ma Huang), and check any herbs with your cardiologist.