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: