Atrial flutter is a heart rhythm abnormality manifested as a fast and sometimes irregular heartbeat. In emergency situations, patients may require a cardiac shock treatment or intravenously administered medications to slow the pulse. Once the emergency is past, drugs that slow the heart rate or thin the blood may be prescribed. When medications don't alleviate the symptoms or are not tolerated well, a technique called radiofrequency ablation might be employed. This method of atrial flutter treatment destroys spots in the heart that may be precipitating the abnormal heart rhythm.
Medications prescribed for patients to take on a daily basis have problems associated with them. Drugs known as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digitalis are given to attempt to slow down the heart rate and prevent the recurrence of atrial flutter. The difficulties are that they can cause substantial adverse effects, and, in many instances, fail to control the abnormal heart condition. Medications to prevent the formation of blood clots may also be prescribed, but some can cause bleeding. The doctor will evaluate your medical condition, and determine which drug may be the most suitable for your atrial flutter treatment.
Engaging in healthy lifestyle practices may lessen the risks of contracting coronary heart disease that can lead to atrial flutter. Heart physicians advise that patients exercise, maintain a healthy weight, and eat a healthy low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. You should not smoke and should take steps to regulate your high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Binge drinking should be avoided.
Symptoms of atrial flutter include a pulse that is fast, too slow, or fluttering. Other signs include shortness of breath, dizziness, and confusion. Patients may also experience heart palpitations, fatigue, and fainting. The symptoms may start or end abruptly. Those with this condition may sometimes be unaware that their heart is beating abnormally. If you have these symptoms, you should consult a doctor in case atrial flutter treatment is needed.
Different factors can cause atrial flutter and it is more frequently manifested in older people. Alcohol use, particularly binge drinking, may precipitate the condition. Certain heart disorders such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease or pericarditis may be causative factors. An overactive thyroid gland, as well as some medications can also produce atrial flutter.
The prognosis is generally good, as the symptoms are frequently controlled by atrial flutter treatment. The condition has a tendency to become long-term. Although many patients get along well, it is possible for the disorder to reoccur even with treatment.
