Atrial Flutter (AFL)

Click the image to view an animation on atrial flutter

Symptoms of AFL It is possible that people with AFL may feel no symptoms at all. Others do have symptoms, which may include: Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing, pounding or fluttering) Fast, steady pulse Shortness of breath Trouble with everyday exercises or activities Pain, pressure, tightness or discomfort in your chest Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. Atrial flutter (AFL) is the second most common type. In AFL, the atria (the upper chambers of the heart) beat too fast. The four chambers of the heart usually beat in a steady, rhythmic pattern. With AFL, the atria are beating faster than the ventricles (the lower chambers).

AFL itself is not life-threatening. If left untreated, the side effects of AFL can be potentially life-threatening. AFL makes it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. With the blood moving more slowly, it is more likely to form clots. If the clot is pumped out of the heart, it could travel to the brain and lead to a stroke or heart attack.

Without treatment, AFL can also cause a fast pulse rate for long periods of time. This can weaken the heart muscle over time, and potentially lead to heart failure. Without treatment, AFL can also cause another type of arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm.

Treatment options for AFL »

What is AFL?

The electrical system of the heart is the power source that makes the heart beat. Electrical impulses travel along a pathway in the heart and make the atria and the ventricles work together to pump blood through the heart.

A normal heartbeat begins as a single electrical impulse that comes from the sino-atrial (SA) node, a small bundle of tissue located in the right atrium. The impulse sends out an electrical pulse that causes both atria to contract (squeeze) and move blood into the lower ventricles. The electrical current passes through a small bundle of tissue called the atrio-ventricular (AV) node (the electrical bridge between the upper and lower chambers of the heart), causing the ventricles to squeeze and release in a steady, rhythmic sequence. As the chambers squeeze and release, they draw blood into the heart and push it back out to the rest of the body. This is what causes the pulse we feel on our wrist or neck.

With AFL, the electrical signal travels along a pathway within the right atrium. It moves in an organized circular motion, or "circuit," causing the atria to beat faster than the ventricles of your heart.

AFL is a heart rhythm disorder that is similar to the more common AF. In AF, the heart beats fast and in no regular pattern or rhythm. With AFL, the heart beats fast, but in a regular pattern. The fast, but regular pattern of AFL is what makes it special. AFL makes a very distinct "sawtooth" pattern on an electrocardiogram (ECG), a test used to diagnose abnormal heart rhythms.

Learn More

Learn more about AFL, including important questions for patients and caregivers to ask their physician, with our Frequently Asked Questions page, including answers to the following:

• How Common is AF?
• What are Symptoms of AFL?
• What Causes AF?
• What are AFL Risk Factors?
• How Serious is AFL?
• How is AF Diagnosed?
• How is AF Treated?