Atrial flutter (patient information)
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Atrial flutter |
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Overview
Atrial fibrillation or flutter is a common type of abnormal heartbeat in which the heart rhythm is fast and irregular.
What are the symptoms of Atrial flutter?
You may not be aware that your heart is not beating in a normal pattern. Symptoms may start or stop suddenly. This is because atrial fibrillation may stop or start on its own.
Symptoms may include:
- Pulse that feels rapid, racing, pounding, fluttering, irregular, or too slow
- Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
- Confusion
- Dizziness, light-headedness
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Loss of ability to exercise
- Shortness of breath
What causes Atrial flutter?
Normally, the four chambers of the heart contract (squeeze) in a very organized way. The electrical impulse that signals your heart to contract begins in an area called the sinoatrial node (also called the sinus node or SA node). This helps the heart pump all the blood the body needs. In atrial fibrillation, the electrical impulse of the heart is not regular.
- Parts of the heart cannot contract in a coordinated pattern.
- As a result, the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
In atrial flutter, the ventricles may beat very rapidly, but in a regular pattern.These problems can affect both men and women and become more common as you get older. Common causes of atrial fibrillation include:
- Alcohol use (especially binge drinking)
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack or heart bypass surgery
- Heart failure or an enlarged heart
- Heart valve disease (most often the mitral valve)
- Medications
- Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
- Pericarditis
- Sick sinus syndrome
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
To help get the heart back into normal rhythm right away, two treatments may be used. These treatments are called cardioversion. They may involve electrical shocks or special drugs given through the veins. They may be done as an emergency, or planned ahead of time.
Daily medicines taken by mouth are used:
To slow the irregular heartbeat. These medications may include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin. To keep atrial fibrillation from coming back. These medications may work well in many people, but they can have serious side effects. Many patients go back to atrial fibrillation, even while taking these medications.
Blood thinners -- such as heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban, and dabigatran (Pradaxa) -- reduce the risk of a blood clot traveling in the body (such as a stroke). Because these drugs increase the chance of bleeding, not everyone can use them. Antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin or clopidogrel may also be prescribed. Your doctor will consider your age and other medical problems when deciding which drug is best.
A procedure called radiofrequency ablation can be used to destroy areas in your heart that may be causing your heart rhythm problems. You may need a heart pacemaker after this procedure.
All patients will need to learn how to manage their atrial fibrillation at home.