What is Atrial Flutter?

Quick Facts

Atrial flutter is a kind of abnormal heart rhythm.
It happens when the heart’s upper chambers beat faster than normal and aren’t coordinated.
Treatment options include medication and ablation.

Atrial flutter is a rhythmic disturbance of the heart (arrhythmia). Atrial flutter happens when the chambers beat faster than normal and are not always coordinated. It is not as common as atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib or AF. But atrial flutter has similar symptoms, causes and results. People with atrial flutter may also develop AFib. An electrocardiogram can detect atrial flutter.

During atrial flutter, the upper chambers of the heart, also called the atria, beat 250 to 350 times per minute. With atrial flutter, the signal that tells the atrium to beat may be blocked by damaged tissue or scar tissue.

Watch an animation of a normal heartbeat.

Symptoms of atrial flutter

Sometimes, there are no obvious symptoms, and the condition is found only with a physical exam. When there are obvious symptoms, they may include:

General fatigue
A rapid and irregular heartbeat
Fluttering or “thumping” in the chest
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Anxiety
Weakness
Faintness or confusion
Fatigue when exercising
Sweating
Chest pain or pressure (If you have this or any other concerning symptom, this is a medical emergency. You may be having a heart attack. Call 911 right away.)

What causes atrial flutter?

The cause of atrial flutter may be unknown. In some cases, it is the result of damage to the heart’s electrical system. This may be caused by other conditions such as: