Calorie Deficit as a trigger for WPW
Has anyone else with WPW noticed that their symptoms get way worse when they’re in a calorie deficit or actively trying to lose weight?
For years I was only diagnosed with SVT, and honestly I felt like a lot of doctors just brushed it off as “anxiety” or generic tachycardia without really looking deeper. I’d have episodes where my heart would suddenly race, feel pounding/skipping, get dizzy, shaky, weak, etc. Sometimes vagal maneuvers worked, sometimes they didn’t.
Recently I ended up in the ER again and one doctor actually took the time to carefully look at my ECG instead of just treating the episode and moving on. They noticed the delta wave pattern and finally diagnosed me with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
One thing I’ve noticed is that whenever I’m in a calorie deficit or losing weight, my heart symptoms seem WAY more activated. It almost feels like my body gets more sensitive to triggers when I’m not eating enough or my blood sugar is lower. I’ll get more palpitations, adrenaline feelings, weird chest sensations, and episodes seem easier to trigger.
I’m curious if anyone else with WPW experiences this? Or if there’s any explanation for why calorie deficits/stress on the body seem to aggravate it?