Atrial flutter

Description

A heart rhythm disorder in which the heart's upper chambers beat too quickly. Also called an arrhythmia.

Overview

Atrial flutter is a type of irregular heartbeat. It's like atrial fibrillation, also called AFib, in that the heart's upper chambers beat too fast. But unlike in AFib, the heartbeat is organized instead of chaotic. The fast heartbeat makes it hard for the heart to fill with blood.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include a racing, pounding or fluttering heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and fainting or almost fainting. Some people don't have symptoms.

Treatments

Treatment may include medicines or a heart procedure to stop the irregular heartbeats. A controlled shock to the heart may be used to reset the heart rhythm.