The cause of atrial flutter and its triggers are not known. Symptoms of atrial flutter include blurlry vision, palpitations, lightheadedness shortness of breath, fatigue, and near-fainting. Heart diseases that damage the heart muscle ( cardiomyopathy) and abnormal enlargement of the heart (hypertrophy) can also increase the risk of atrial flutter.Īlcohol (wine, beer, or hard liquor) as well as stimulant drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, diet pills, or cold medicines can lead to atrial flutter in susceptible people. Atrial flutter is a type of arrhythmia in which there is a problem with the heart's electrical system. Some of these risk factors include high blood pressure, obesity, heart failure, coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease), atherosclerosis, aging, recent surgery, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, alcohol abuse and binge drinking, chronic lung disease (such as COPDĪnd emphysema), and other serious illnesses. The exact reason this occurs is poorly understood, but there are certain conditions that increase the risk of developing atrial flutter. Causes of atrial flutterĪtrial flutter is caused by an abnormality in the electrical pacemaker in the heart atrium that causes an irregular heartbeat. The reduction in cardiac output (decreased volume of blood pumped by the heart), when untreated, can have serious consequences, including congestive heart failure, stroke, and heart attack. It can lead to symptoms of palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, or. Blood clots may form in the heart (thrombi) that may break off and travel to other parts of the body (emboli), leading to complications. Atrial flutter is an abnormal cardiac rhythm characterized by rapid, regular atrial depolarizations at a characteristic rate of approximately 300 beats/min and a regular ventricular rate of about 150 beats/min in patients not taking atrioventricular (AV) nodal blockers. Other less common symptoms can include lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, or chest pain. Palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, and poor exercise tolerance are the most common symptoms. It is characterized by a fast heart rate and a reduction in cardiac output that leads to characteristic symptoms. When the hearts chamber fibrillates, it quivers or shakes, rather than contracting. Atrial flutter is a type of abnormal heartbeat or arrhythmia. In contrast to atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation is a more chaotic rhythm that does not follow one set loop.

Atrial flutter symptoms