Treating rapid heartbeat.Dear Dr. Zipes:Four months ago, I started having times when my heart would start racing. The cardiologist told me that I have WPW WPW Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome WPW Wafers Per Week WPW Web Page Wizard WPW Web Publishing Wizard . He wants to do a procedure on my heart, but I am nervous. What is WPW? Can't I just take a pill instead? Via email You can take a pill, but it is often ineffective and may have side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. . The procedure--called "catheter ablation Catheter Ablation Definition Catheter ablation of an irregular heartbeat involves having a tube (a catheter) inserted into the heart through which electrical energy is sent to either reset the heartbeat or stop the heart from beating so a mechanical "--is similar to a heart catheterization Heart catheterization A heart catheterization is used to view the heart's chamber and valves. A tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery, usually in the groin. A dye is then put into the artery through the tube. . Specialists thread a catheter (skinny wire) through a blood vessel and into the heart to find where your rapid heartbeat is coming from and eliminate that abnormal tissue. When successful (and it usually is, depending on where the abnormality is located), you can be cured of your problem without the need for medicines and with just a brief stay in the hospital. WPW is the abbreviated name for Wolff-Parkinson-Wright syndrome. |
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