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A disorder characterized by an electrocardiographic finding of an organized, regular atrial rhythm with atrial rate of 240-340 beats per minute. Multiple P waves typically appear in the inferior leads in a saw tooth-like pattern between the QRS complexes

Symptoms of Atrial Flutter

The following features are indicative of Atrial Flutter:
  • confusion
  • shortness of breath
  • nausea
  • nervousness
  • chest pain
  • fainting
  • loss of ability to exercise
  • palpitations
  • fatigue
It is possible that Atrial Flutter shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Atrial Flutter

The following are the most common causes of Atrial Flutter:
  • coronary artery disease
  • heart bypass surgery
  • heart valve disease
  • pericarditis
  • sick sinus syndrome
  • hypertension

Other Causes of Atrial Flutter

The following are the less common causes of Atrial Flutter:
  • hyperthyroidism
  • alcohol use

Risk Factors for Atrial Flutter

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Atrial Flutter:
  • myocardial infarction
  • smoking
  • stroke
  • heart failure
  • hypertension
  • alcoholism
  • diabetes

Prevention of Atrial Flutter

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Atrial Flutter. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • avoid smoking
  • healthy diet intake
  • avoid alcohol consumption
  • maintained body weight

Occurrence of Atrial Flutter

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Atrial Flutter cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Common between 1 - 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Atrial Flutter can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Atrial Flutter can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Atrial Flutter

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Atrial Flutter:
  • Electrocardiogram: To detects and records the heart's electrical activity
  • Holter monitor: To records the heart's activity for a full 24- or 48-hour period
  • Event monitor: To monitor the heart's electrical activity at certain times
  • Stress test: To diagnose when the heart is working hard and beating fast
  • Echocardiography: To view the size and shape of the heart and identify areas of poor blood flow to the heart
  • Transesophageal echocardiography: To detect blood clots that may be forming in the atria
  • Chest X-ray: To view pictures of the structures in the chest
  • Blood test: To determine the level of thyroid hormone in the body and the balance of the body's electrolytes

Doctor for Diagnosis of Atrial Flutter

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Atrial Flutter:
  • Cardiologists
  • Electrophysiologists

Complications of Atrial Flutter if untreated

Yes, Atrial Flutter causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Atrial Flutter is left untreated:
  • cardiomyopathy
  • atrial fibrillation
  • sudden cardiac death

Procedures for Treatment of Atrial Flutter

The following procedures are used to treat Atrial Flutter:
  • Catheter ablation: To ablate the circuit that causes atrial flutter
  • Cardioversion: To cause a return the heart into a normal rhythm

Self-care for Atrial Flutter

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Atrial Flutter:
  • Eat heart-healthy foods: Improves the overall health of the heart
  • Exercise regularly: Increase the physical activity I Quit smoking: Prevents or treat conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Lowers the risk of developing heart disease

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Atrial Flutter

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Atrial Flutter:
  • Yoga therapy: Decreases oxidative stress and inflammation and lowers symptoms of symptomatic atrial fibrillation and non-atrial fibrillation episodes
  • Acupuncture: Decreases the recurrences of atrial fibrillation after cardioversion
  • Biofeedback therapy: Increases the parasympathetic activity and thus can decrease heart rate

Patient Support for Treatment of Atrial Flutter

The following actions may help Atrial Flutter patients:
  • Caregiving for someone with atrial fibrillation: Helps in managing the atrial fibrillation condition
  • Learn about atrial fibrillation: Helps in providing good care and participate in treatment decisions
  • Join a support group: Gives a forum to share the experiences with others who understand your situation

Time for Treatment of Atrial Flutter

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Atrial Flutter to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • More than 1 year

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Atrial Flutter.

Related Topics

Atrial Fibrillation

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