Atrial flutter(A-flutter) and Atrial fibrillation(AFib) are arrhythmias related to abnormal heart rhythms.
Atrial flutter is a type of heart rhythm disorder in which the heart's upper chambers beat too quickly.
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots in the heart.
AFib is more common than A-flutter and is often associated with aging and other underlying health conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, and obesity.[National Library of Medicine]
Atrial flutter is often caused by a short-circuiting of the normal impulse in a loop that revolves around the top right chamber of the heart.[UChicago Medicine]
Symptoms of AFib and A-flutter include palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain.[British Heart Foundation]
AFib is usually treated first with medication, whereas A-flutter is usually treated with catheter ablation.[British Heart Foundation]
AFib is often treated with blood-thinning medications and/or electrical cardioversion, a procedure that uses electricity to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm. [Johns Hopkins Medicine]
A-flutter can be converted to normal sinus rhythm with electrical cardioversion or medication. [National Library of Medicine]
Both AFib and A-flutter require careful monitoring to minimize the risk of complications.