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Today, 09 February 2010

› Strike three, Mr President

› Cooked head discovered

› Zuma apology 'unwelcome'

› 'Illegal' traps blasted

› Madiba to grace Parliament

Yesterday, 08 February 2010

› No credit to FW - Zuma

› Zapiro revives showerhead

› 'Our president has failed'

› Praise for Amla

› 'Zuma should be forgiven'

Question

What exactly is Parkinson-White Syndrome?

Answer

This syndrome, commonly known as Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome describes an abnormality of the conducting system of the heart. The heart, like any other muscle, is controlled by electrical impulses. In the heart this control is very specific as the impulses have to ensure that the heart beats at its own particular and regular rhythm. The heart is divided into 4 chambers, the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. The conducting system of the heart ensures that the electrical impulses causing the heart to beat are channelled through each chamber in the correct order. The wave of conduction starts in the so-called Sino-atrial node and causes the atria to contract. The impulse then travels to the atrioventricular node, which lies between the two ventricles. From here the impulse travels through the Bundle of His, which is a part of the conducting system that links the atria and the ventricles. The impluses then spread over the two ventricles. This whole cycle, called the cardiac cycle, allows the heart to beat in a steady, regular way. It is these electrical impulses which are monitored when an electocardiogram (ECG) is performed. So, if there are any abnormalities in the conducting system they will be seen on the ECG.

People who have Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, have abnormal strands of muscle in the conducting system, particularly around the atrioventricular system. This shows itself as paroxysmal tachycardias. In English, this is the sudden onset of a very fast heart beat, which may or may not be regular. There are different ways of treating this depending on what sort of abnormal rhythm is caused. Pacemakers, drugs and even surgery can be used.

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