Atrial Flutter is a type of abnormal heart rhythm where the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat very fast but in a regular pattern.
In simple terms, the heart’s electrical system gets stuck in a loop, causing the atria to beat much faster than normal—often around 250–300 beats per minute. However, not all of these beats get through to the lower chambers (the ventricles), so the pulse you feel is usually slower but still fast and steady.
People with atrial flutter may notice:
Some people have no symptoms at all.
Medications can help slow down how many of the fast signals reach the lower chambers, making the heartbeat more manageable.
Doctors may try to return the heart to a normal rhythm using:
Because blood can still pool in the atria, some patients are given anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medication to reduce stroke risk.
A common and highly effective treatment for atrial flutter is catheter ablation. This procedure targets the electrical “loop” causing the rhythm and interrupts it. In many cases, this can cure atrial flutter.