Atrial Flutter

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Atrial Flutter
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Atrial Flutter

• Atrial flutter is a heart disorder in which the
  heart beats very much faster than normal.The
  condition is same as that to atrial fibrillation
  which is the most common type of arrhythmia
  (abnormal heartbeat) and it can cause similar
  symptoms and complications.Atrial flutter is
  very less common than atrial fibrillation, and
  people with atrial flutter can also have episodes
  of atrial fibrillation.

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Causes of Atrial Flutter

• Generally, your heartbeat begins with an
  electrical signal that is given out by the sinus
  node, a cluster of cells located in the upper
  right heart chamber (right atrium).This signal
  goes from the right atrium to the left atrium and
  tells both of these chambers to pump blood into
  the lower heart chambers (right and left
  ventricles).The signal then goes to the
  atrioventricular node, near the center of the
  heart, where it is slowed down briefly to allow
  the ventricles to fill with blood.The signal
  then passes through the ventricles, causing those
  chambers to pump blood to the rest of the
  body.

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Causes of Atrial Flutter
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• A normal resting heart rate is about 60 to 100
  beats per minute.In people suffering with
  atrial flutter, the heart's electrical signal
  gets stuck repeating in the right atrium, causing
  the atria to contract rapidly (about 300 times
  per minute).The atrioventricular node can't
  conduct impulses this quickly, but about half of
  the signals from the atria still make it to the
  ventricles, causing the lower heart chambers to
  pump at about 150 beats per minute.

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Causes of Atrial Flutter
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• Atrial flutter causes the heart to beat in a
  fast but regular pattern unlike atrial
  fibrillation, which causes a fast and irregular
  pattern.Atrial flutter makes a distinctive
  "sawtooth" pattern on an electrocardiogram (EKG
  or ECG), a test that is used to monitor the heart
  and diagnose heart rhythm disorders.Like atrial
  fibrillation, atrial flutter develops from health
  conditions that affect the heart's internal
  electrical system.

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Symptoms Complications of Atrial Flutter

• Aside from a rapid heart rate, symptoms of
  atrial flutter include
• Palpitations (racing, pounding, or fluttering of
  the heart)
• Chest pain or tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Fatigue
• Low blood pressure
• Some people don't experience any symptoms from
  atrial flutter.

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Symptoms Complications of Atrial Flutter
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• Blood regulates more slowly through the heart
  and can stagnate, allowing small blood clots to
  form. These clots can move to the brain and block
  an artery, causing a stroke or a cold arm or leg,
  for example, the clots travel to a major artery
  in your limbs.Also, in people suffering with
  atrial flutter, the ventricles do not completely
  fill with blood and may not pump enough blood to
  meet the body's needs, resulting in heart failure.

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Diagnosis Treatment of Atrial Flutter

• Atrial flutter is diagnosed depending on your
  medical and family history, a physical exam, and
  an EKG.If an EKG shows that you are having
  atrial flutter, your doctor can also conduct an
  ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram) to
  evaluate your heart and spot any blood
  clots.Many classes of medication can help in
  slowing your heart rate, including beta blockers,
  calcium channel blockers, and digoxin. Blood
  thinners (anticoagulants) or aspirin can help
  reduce your risk of blood clots.A procedure
  known as electrical cardioversion in which
  you're given a brief, low-power electrical shock
  through your chest is often used to restore a
  normal sinus heart rhythm.

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Diagnosis Treatment of Atrial Flutter
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• However, this treatment is effective people
  often experience a return of arrhythmia at some
  point in the future.Anti-arrhythmic medication,
  such as sodium-channel or potassium-channel
  blockers, can help in restoring a normal rhythm
  or maintain normal rhythm after electrical
  cardioversion.Else, your doctor can advise
  radio frequency ablation to convert an atrial
  flutter to normal sinus rhythm.In this
  procedure, a surgeon will thread a catheter to
  your heart and will use radio wave energy to
  create scar tissue that blocks the abnormal
  electrical pathways involved in atrial flutter.

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