 Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome ( WPW):
Walaikum Salam. Wolff Parkinson White syndrome ( WPW) is a cardiac conduction disorder which is present since birth but sometimes symptoms don't appear until later in life. It effects every 2-3 people out of 1000, and symptoms vary from having occassional episodes of rapid heartbeat, palpitations, to more serious symptoms like dizziness, light headedness, even fainting sometimes, and uncommonly may also cause life threatening arrythmias ( abnormal heart rhythm). It generally does not cause strokes, maybe you meant fainting episodes which certainly can occur with WPW. Weather does not play a major role in exacerbation of WPW symptoms. I don't know if your father is already receiving any treatment or not, but generally treatment depends upon the severity of symptoms. Medical treatments include anti arrythmic medications. However the definitive treatment is called cathetar ablation, in which a cathetar ( rubber tube) is inserted through a vein in the upper thigh into the heart, and then the abnormal elctrical pathway causing the abnormal rhythm is destroyed using radiofrequency. You asked about precautionary measures, and the answer is that even though it is not a definitive treatment, but performing vagal maneuvers ( like pinching the nose and then trying to pop the ears out) is helpful in slowing down the heart rate, but check with your doctor first as it is not suitable for everyone. Also avoidance of caffeine ( coffee, tea) and tobacco is also helpful. Good luck.
|