Welding

[Stewie2050]

I have WPW which is fairly well controlled through meds and keeping fit. Lately i have noticed a bit of arythmia at night . I have been a welder all my working life and have heard that this could be the cause.

[Stewie2050]

Thanks for the feedback guys.Yes CFS56 i was born with WPW but it didn't appear till my late teens and now is relatively under control. The docs tried to freeze the annoying pathway but found it too close to an important node to risk it .That was abt 10 years ago so mabe its worth a try again with some new technology. I also have ready about the fumes but it sounds like a long shot atm . A new trip to the docs is on the cards now i guess. Thanks again for the positive feedback guys:)

[CFS56]

I did a bit of research on your question about welding/WPW syndrome.  I worked for a long time in occupational medicine and was curious if there could be a connection.  Metal fumes can cause arrhythmias to occur, there was a study done a while back that involved boilermakers exposed to welding fumes.  On days they worked they had a 20% increase in ventricular arrhythmias.  But I know that WPW is most often something you are born with, you have an extra electrical pathway in your heart.  Symptoms usually present in your teens and twenties.  So, even though welding is not the cause of the WPW, I suppose that it is remotely possible that heavy metal fume exposure could trigger an arrhythmia of some sort.  

[CFS56]

The only thing I can think of that may cause a problem is exposure to some of the metals.  I know that nickel, cadmium and some other metal fumes are toxic.  Don't know if that can cause your problem or not but I know they can cause numerous health issues with overexposure.  

[cindy707]

Hi i read your post....personally i have never heard of welding causing an arrthymia in someone especially if it is hours after you have left work however some things do make sense to me if it happens while you are welding...one would be the position of your welding mask and if it is a full face mask and presses on the carotid artery under your chin because that could definately effect your heart rate so you may want to adjust the mask so that is stays loose around the neck area and not tight..believe it or not most heart docs tell people that have specific heart issues not to wear tight clothing along the neck area like turtlenecks, etc. because it can upset the rhythm of the heart for the same reason...if there is a chin strap on the mask consider loosening it...the other issue that can also affect the heart is vibration so if you are welding something and it is causing a vibration in your body via your hands or you are pressed up against the table and are welding tabletop try not to press your stomach against the table if possible...that may be sort of what you have heard...i have seen it in cases of people who have been walking across the Golden Gate Bridge in the area where i live and people lean against the rail to look over into the bay and the cars that cross the bridge cause the entire bridge to vibrate and sets off irregular heartbeats believe it or not...just food for thought...always best tho if it continues to make and appt. w. your doc to make sure nothing else is popping up on you....