Wolf's Parkinson's White Syndrome/Heart Disease

Rapid Heart Beat/Heart/Heart Blockage Palpitations/Supraventricular Tachycardia

Wolf Parkinson's White Syndrome is a rare disease affecting mostly males. I first heard of this disease of the heart when a friend of mine's son contracted the disease. He was a freshman in college and had been complaining of feeling tired and "somewhat dizzy" followed by his heart beating rapidly. After coming home and going to the doctor,he was given iron for anemia, and antibiotics for a virus, his mother said. He went back to college expecting to feel like his old self soon. Instead, a few months later he collasped in the classroom. He was diagnosed with Wolf Parkinson WHite Syndrome. I thought to myself, what the heck is that? My curiosity about this disease, resulted in the writing of this article. 

I am writing this article from a layman's understanding of what is Wolf Parkinson's White Syndrome. The heart has four chambers, two at the top call atria and two at the bottom called ventricles. The sinus node is the heart's natural pacemaker. It is located in the heart's right atrium. It gives off electrical impulses to make the heart beat. In order for the heart to beat properly, the signal must travel down a specific path from the sinus node to the ventricles. As long as the impulse is trasnmitted normally, the heart pumps and beats at a regular pace. Sometimes the signal from the heart's upper chambers to the lower chambers is impaired or doesn't transmit. This is when heart block occurs. 

Wolf Parkinson's White Syndrome increases the heart rate by blocking the normal conduction system. It creates an abnormally fast electrical conduction in an accessory pathway within the heart bypassing and blocking the normal conduction system.