Atrial flutter is a form of cardiacarrhythmia, a group of heart conditions characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm.
With atrial flutter, you would experiencetachycardia(a fast heart rate) with occasionalpalpitations(skipped beats).
The lack of synchronicity is what defines an atrial flutter.
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While atrial flutter itself is usually not life-threatening, it can significantly increase a persons risk ofstroke.
Atrial flutter is closely related toatrial fibrillationbut is not the same thing.
What Does Atrial Flutter Feel Like?
Episodes may last for minutes in some people but may persist for days or months in others.
What Causes Atrial Flutter?
This interferes with the normal delivery of electrical impulses to the atria.
While anyone can develop atrial flutter, it is much less common than atrial fibrillation.
This is because erratic heartbeats can leave blood pooling in the upper chambers of the heart.
Heart Failure
Atrial flutter can also cause the worsening of symptoms in people withheart failure.
For atrial flutters, the heart specialist will look for what is called flutter waves.
What distinguishes atrial flutter is that the P and R waves well regularly spaced and sized.
In addition to ECG, anechocardiogramis typically used in people newly diagnosed with atrial flutters.
The specialized form ofultrasounduses high-frequency sound waves to generate highly detailed images of the heart muscle and valves.
It can arise from untreated atrial flutters or develop on its own.
With AFib, the atria will beat rapidly and irregularly.
The difference between atrial flutters and AFib is more clearly seen on ECG.
With AFib, there may be no visible P waves or the P waves may look coarse.
What Is the Best Treatment for Atrial Flutter?
This is especially true for people with a structural heart problem, like heart valve disease or ventricular hypertrophy.
Even so, it can return in 4% to 6% of people.
Summary
Atrial flutter is an abnormal heart rhythm.
It’s brought on by extremely rapid electrical impulses in the upper chambers of your heart.
It can cause you to feel palpitations as well as dizziness, fatigue, and breathlessness.
It can also increase your risk of stroke.
Atrial flutters are diagnosed with an ECG to show the electrical impulses of your heart.
Treatment may include antiarrhythmic drugs, calcium blockers, and beta blockers.
2021 Jan;14(1):e000100.
doi:10.1161/HCQ.0000000000000100
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.The heart.
