Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a heart rhythm condition seen in both children and adults across West Michigan, including the Grand Rapids area. It involves an extra electrical pathway in the heart that can cause episodes of very fast heart rate (tachycardia).

Cardiology teams at Spectrum Health (Corewell Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health–University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health in Grand Rapids commonly diagnose and treat WPW syndrome using advanced, minimally invasive procedures.

How the Heart’s Electrical System Works

Your heartbeat is controlled by electrical impulses that travel through the heart in a specific pattern:

  • The impulse starts in the atria (upper chambers of the heart)
  • It then moves to a small cluster of cells called the atrioventricular (AV) node
  • From the AV node, it travels to the ventricles (lower chambers), causing them to contract and pump blood

Normally, the electrical impulse pauses briefly at the AV node before entering the ventricles. This pause helps keep your heartbeat regular and coordinated.

What Happens in Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome?

In Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome:

  • An extra electrical pathway (called an “accessory pathway”) connects the atria and the ventricles
  • This pathway allows electrical signals to bypass the normal delay at the AV node
  • As a result, the signals can move too quickly and sometimes in a looping circuit

In some people, this extra pathway causes no symptoms and is only discovered on an electrocardiogram (ECG). In others, it can trigger episodes of very fast heart rate, sometimes over 200 beats per minute (normal resting heart rate is usually 70–80 beats per minute).

Between 1–2 people per 1,000 are thought to have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Symptoms of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may come and go. Common symptoms include:

  • Sudden episodes of very fast heart rate (often > 200 beats per minute)
  • Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing, pounding, or skipping beats)
  • Tightness or discomfort in the chest
  • Shortness of breath
  • Light-headedness or feeling faint
  • Dizziness
  • Drop in blood pressure
  • Fainting spells (loss of consciousness in more severe episodes)

Many episodes are short-lived, and the person may recover quickly. However, any new or severe symptoms should be evaluated promptly, especially in infants, children, or older adults with other heart conditions.

WPW Syndrome in Newborns and Children

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is one of the leading causes of fast heart rate disorders in newborns and young children. In the Grand Rapids area, pediatric cardiology specialists at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and Trinity Health Grand Rapids frequently evaluate children with suspected WPW.

Signs in infants and young children may include:

  • Poor feeding
  • Irritability
  • Pale or gray skin color
  • Rapid breathing
  • Lethargy (unusual sleepiness)
  • Episodes of very fast heartbeat felt in the chest

In some children, WPW may improve or resolve on its own within the first few years of life. If it persists, most children will eventually need evaluation and possible treatment by a pediatric cardiologist.

Complications of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Although many people with WPW live normal, active lives, serious complications can occur, especially if episodes are frequent or very fast.

Possible complications include:

  • Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  • Loss of consciousness (syncope)
  • Heart failure in severe or prolonged episodes
  • Rarely, sudden death, particularly if WPW is combined with other rhythm problems

Because of these risks, it is important for people in Grand Rapids with suspected WPW to be evaluated by a cardiologist familiar with heart rhythm disorders (electrophysiologist).

What Causes Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome?

The exact cause of the extra electrical pathway is not known. Key points include:

  • The condition is present at birth (congenital)
  • Most cases are not strongly genetic
  • Some families do have more than one affected member
  • Children of a person with WPW have a slightly higher risk (about 4–5 per 1,000)

Since the underlying cause is unknown, there is no known way to prevent WPW from developing.

Diagnosis of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome in Grand Rapids

If your Grand Rapids primary care provider or emergency department doctor suspects WPW, you may be referred to a local cardiologist or electrophysiologist at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health.

Common diagnostic tests include:

  • Physical examination
    Listening to the heart and reviewing symptoms.

  • Medical history
    Discussing episodes of fast heart rate, fainting, family history of heart rhythm problems, and triggers (such as exercise, stress, or caffeine).

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
    A quick, painless test that records the heart’s electrical activity and can show the characteristic pattern of WPW.

  • Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
    Used to check for structural heart defects or other heart problems that may be associated with WPW.

  • Exercise stress testing
    Evaluates whether the WPW pattern persists or changes during physical activity.

  • Holter monitor (24-hour ECG)
    A portable device worn at home to record the heart rhythm over a longer period.

  • Electrophysiology (EP) study
    A more detailed test performed in the hospital. Thin catheters are threaded through blood vessels (usually from the groin) into the heart to map the heart’s electrical activity and locate the extra pathway.

These tests are available through major hospital systems in Grand Rapids and surrounding Kent County.

Treatment Options for Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Treatment in Grand Rapids is tailored to the severity of symptoms, age, and overall health. Options may include one or more of the following.

Vagal Maneuvers

These are simple techniques that stimulate the vagus nerve, which can help slow the heart rate during an episode of tachycardia. Under medical guidance, these may include:

  • Blowing hard against resistance (for example, exhaling forcefully while closing the mouth and pinching the nose)
  • Applying a cold or ice pack to the face

These maneuvers are usually taught by a cardiologist or emergency physician. They are not appropriate for everyone, so always follow your doctor’s advice.

Medications (Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs)

Your cardiologist may prescribe medications to:

  • Slow the heart rate
  • Reduce the frequency of episodes
  • Help stabilize the heart’s electrical activity

These drugs can be effective but may:

  • Not work in all patients
  • Cause side effects
  • Require regular monitoring and follow-up

Electrical Cardioversion

In some emergency situations, when the heart rate is dangerously fast and does not respond to medications or vagal maneuvers, doctors may use:

  • Electrical cardioversion – a controlled, brief electric shock delivered to the heart to reset the rhythm

This is typically done in a hospital setting such as the emergency department or cardiac unit at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health.

Catheter Ablation (Electrophysiology Procedure)

For many children (usually over age 7) and adults, catheter ablation is the preferred long-term treatment:

  • Performed by a heart rhythm specialist (electrophysiologist)
  • Thin catheters are inserted through blood vessels (often from the groin) and guided into the heart
  • The extra electrical pathway is located and destroyed (ablated) using heat (radiofrequency) or cold (cryoablation)

Benefits:

  • Often cures WPW
  • Usually does not require open-heart surgery
  • Performed with sedation or anesthesia
  • Most patients go home the same day or after an overnight stay

In many cases the extra pathway is easy to find. In some, it is more difficult to locate or may be in a higher-risk area. If the pathway cannot be safely eliminated, long-term medication or, rarely, surgery may be recommended instead.

Artificial Pacemaker or Open-Heart Surgery

These are less common options and are usually considered only when:

  • Catheter ablation is not possible or not successful
  • There are other structural heart problems requiring surgery

Your Grand Rapids cardiology team will explain risks and benefits if these options are needed.

Long-Term Outlook for People with WPW in Grand Rapids

With appropriate diagnosis and treatment:

  • Most people with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can live normal, active lives
  • Children and adults often return to school, work, and sports after treatment, under guidance from their cardiologist

Ongoing care may include:

  • Regular ECGs to monitor heart rhythm
  • Periodic visits with a cardiologist or electrophysiologist
  • Medication adjustments if needed
  • Activity and sports clearance, especially for student athletes in Grand Rapids schools and colleges

Cold Michigan winters and seasonal changes do not directly cause WPW, but:

  • Cold weather, respiratory infections, and increased caffeine use (coffee, energy drinks) can sometimes stress the heart
  • It is important to manage overall heart health, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight, especially in adults

When to Seek Help in Grand Rapids

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department (Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health Hospital, or Mercy Health) if you or your child has:

  • Sudden, severe chest pain or pressure
  • Trouble breathing
  • Fainting or near-fainting episodes
  • A very fast heart rate that does not slow down with rest
  • Confusion, weakness, or signs of stroke

For non-emergency concerns, contact:

  • Your primary care provider or pediatrician
  • A cardiologist or pediatric cardiologist in Grand Rapids

Local and Regional Resources

Residents of Grand Rapids and Kent County can access additional support and information through:

  • Kent County Health Department – Guidance on overall heart health, screenings, and local clinics
  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community clinics – For referrals and ongoing primary care
  • Major health systems in Grand Rapids:
    • Spectrum Health (Corewell Health)
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health–University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health

If you have a child with a heart condition, organizations like HeartKids-type congenital heart support groups and national resources such as the Genetic Alliance and major U.S. heart foundations offer education and family support.

Key Points About Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

  • Some people have the WPW ECG pattern without any symptoms.
  • WPW is characterized by episodes of very fast heart rate (tachycardia), sometimes over 200 beats per minute.
  • Fainting spells, palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and low blood pressure can occur during episodes.
  • WPW is a leading cause of fast heart rate disorders in newborns and young children.
  • The cause of the extra electrical pathway is not clear, and prevention is not currently possible.
  • Effective treatments in Grand Rapids include vagal maneuvers, medications, electrical cardioversion, and catheter ablation, which often cures the condition.
  • Ongoing follow-up with a Grand Rapids cardiologist is important to ensure the heart is functioning normally and to manage any long-term concerns.