OverviewWhat is atrial flutter?Atrial flutter is a type of supraventricular arrhythmia. This means it’s an abnormal heart rhythm that starts in the upper chambers of your heart. With atrial flutter, your heart beats in a fast but consistent pattern. Show
A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute when you’re at rest. Atrial flutter can make your heart’s upper chambers beat 250 to 350 times a minute. This causes your lower chambers to beat fast as a response, commonly as fast as 150 beats a minute or more. Atrial flutter is like an assembly line with the speed set too fast at the line’s first station. Your heart’s chambers can’t fill with blood fast enough because the contractions are too frequent. Also, there isn’t enough time for your atria (upper chambers) to empty all their blood into your ventricles in the lower part of your heart. This causes your heart to pump less blood to your body than normal. Atrial flutter types
A provider can tell which type of atrial flutter you have based on your electrocardiogram (EKG) results. How does atrial flutter affect my body?When you have atrial flutter, your heart isn’t working as efficiently as it should.
Symptoms and CausesWhat are the symptoms?Some people don’t have symptoms of atrial flutter. For others, symptoms include:
What are the complications of atrial flutter?Complications may include:
What causes atrial flutter?Electrical signals that are too frequent cause atrial flutter, making the upper chambers of your heart contract (pump) too often. Causes of atrial flutter include:
What are the risk factors for atrial flutter?You’re at a higher risk of atrial flutter if you’re older, assigned male at birth or you have:
Diagnosis and TestsHow is atrial flutter diagnosed?A provider may use tests to diagnose atrial flutter, including:
Management and TreatmentHow is atrial flutter treated?Medicines work well for many people with atrial flutter. Any medicine can have side effects, but the benefits usually are greater than the risks. When medicines don’t work, your provider may recommend a procedure that can help. MedicationsMedicines for the treatment of atrial flutter include:
ProceduresProcedures to treat atrial flutter include:
Complications of the treatmentRarely, you can have complications from an ablation, including:
PreventionHow can I reduce my risk?Although you can’t control some of the risk factors for atrial flutter, limiting your alcohol intake can help. Also, you can get medical care for the problems that cause atrial flutter. These include:
Outlook / PrognosisWhat can I expect if I have atrial flutter?If atrial flutter continues, it can cause:
Some people have less than a 5% chance of atrial flutter happening again after a catheter ablation. Others may have less successful procedures because of their type of atrial flutter. People with complex cases of atypical atrial flutter may have only a 70% success rate with ablation. Ablation may cause complications, such as a stroke. Even after a successful ablation, 25% to 80% of people get atrial fibrillation. How long atrial flutter lastsBecause there’s no cure for atrial flutter and it carries a high risk of stroke, you’ll need follow-up appointments all your life. It’s important to keep your appointments because it’s common for atrial flutter to keep coming back. Living WithHow do I take care of myself?Make sure you keep your follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider. Each year, they’ll figure out your stroke risk based on other medical conditions you may have. You may need to take an anticoagulant if your provider believes you’re at risk of a stroke. When should I go to the ER?You should seek medical care when you have a fast heartbeat (150 beats per minute or more) while at rest. What questions should I ask my doctor?
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the difference between atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation?A lot of people have both atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. Both are types of supraventricular arrhythmia. If it’s not treated, atrial flutter can actually cause atrial fibrillation and vice versa. Atrial fibrillation characteristics
Atrial flutter characteristics
A note from Cleveland Clinic Atrial flutter is one type of fast heart rhythm in the upper part of your heart. Without atrial flutter treatment, you could be at risk for a stroke or heart failure. That’s why it’s important to keep your appointments with your healthcare provider. They can figure out your risk of stroke and offer solutions to get your heart rhythm back to normal. Your provider can help you decide which treatment is best for your situation. How long can you live with atrial flutter?Does this affect my life expectancy? Most patients with atrial flutter lead an entirely normal life with modern drugs and treatments.
How do you treat atrial fibrillation and flutter?Treatments include:. Medicines to slow your heart rate. They may also help relieve your symptoms. ... . Blood-thinning medicines to help prevent stroke. You and your doctor can decide if you will take medicine to lower your risk.. Electrical cardioversion to stop atrial flutter. ... . Catheter ablation to stop atrial flutter.. Which is more serious atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation?The symptoms of atrial flutter tend to be less severe than the symptoms of AFib. People with atrial flutter have a tendency to develop AFib, even after treatment.
How can I tell if I have AFib or flutter?In atrial fibrillation, the atria beat irregularly. In atrial flutter, the atria beat regularly, but faster than usual and more often than the ventricles, so you may have four atrial beats to every one ventricular beat.
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