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Types of Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter involves the abnormal beating of the heart, either in its speed or rhythm, known as a arrhythmia. Electrical impulses control the beating of the heart. In people with atrial flutter, an abnormal circuit develops, causing the heart to beat too fast. Rapid beating presents problems for the circulatory system and the organs that depend upon blood to live.

  1. Heart

    • The heart is a muscle that acts as a pump to send blood throughout the body. The heart has four chambers. The upper chambers known as the atria and the lower chambers or ventricles. When blood returns to the heart it enters the atria. A contraction in the aria sends the blood to the ventricle where another contraction pumps the blood out into the body. The two contractions compose one heartbeat. Under normal circumstances, the electrical impulses that control the beating begin with the sinus node in the right atrium. The impulse crosses the atria, producing the contraction. It stops in the atrioventricular node to allow the blood to enter the ventricle. The impulse then enters the ventricle and causes the second contraction.

    Typical Flutter

    • Typical atrial flutter occurs when the heart beats are regular, usually at 150 beats per minute. Sometimes the rate increases up to 300 or decreases to 75 per minute. Typically the heart beats faster in the atria and slows down in the ventricles, although the heart will still be beating too fast. Identification of the flutter is based upon the regular beats which produce an electrical pattern on an electrocardiogram, or EKG, which is consistent. This type of atrial flutter involves only one electrical circuit in the right atrium, according to the Texas Arrhythmia Institute, and is thus easy to repair.

    Atypical Flutter

    • A second type of atrial flutter is an atypical flutter. Its electrical pattern is not as consistent, and more than one electrical circuit may be involved. The heartbeat rate is generally higher than typical atrial flutter. This type closely resembles atrial fibrillation. WebMD points out, atrial flutter can be temporary. If so, it is known as paroxysmal atrial flutter as opposed to permanent, or persistent, atrial flutter.

    Flutter Causes

    • The normal profile for atrial flutter is a male over 60 years of age with a prior heart disorder. Such disorders include coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, enlarged heart or recovery from open-heart surgery. An overactive thyroid or a blood clot can be a contributing cause, along with alcohol or any stimulant.

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