This is useful in detecting atrial flutter that occurs intermittently, especially if it isn’t present during a doctor visit. A heart monitor, which records the heart’s activity for the hours or days that you wear it.This may reveal heart valve or structural heart problems or the presence of blood clots. An echocardiogram, which provides detailed images of your heart while it is beating.A patient with atrial flutter won’t have normal heart wave patterns instead, their heart waves may have a “sawtooth” pattern, or the study may show other abnormalities associated with atrial flutter. Electrocardiogram, which measures the heart’s electrical activity.Additionally, you may have the following tests performed: Blood tests, for example, may help diagnose thyroid disease, which may contribute to atrial flutter, or the tests may rule out other conditions. You should also let your doctor know if you have a family history of atrial fibrillation.ĭuring a physical exam, doctors may check to see if your heart rate is higher than normal, and if your pulse is irregular.ĭifferent diagnostic tests may help rule out other conditions and/or diagnose atrial flutter. To diagnose the condition, they will need to know about your medical history, perform a physical exam, and order diagnostic tests.ĭuring the medical history part of the visit, you should tell your doctor about a personal history of heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, or heart surgery, as well as any chronic health conditions, such as sleep apnea, hypertension, COPD, diabetes, or overactive thyroid. If you have symptoms of atrial flutter, talk to your doctor. In addition, prolonged periods of high heart rates can lead to a weakening of the heart (cardiomyopathy). These blood clots may increase the risk of stroke, should they detach and move through the bloodstream to the brain. For example, blood left behind in the upper chambers may pool, forming blood clots. These too-fast contractions in the heart’s upper chambers mean that blood does not pump efficiently to the lower chambers or throughout the body, leading to a number of potential serious complications. This would cause the heart rate to increase to 150 beats per minute, which is much higher than the normal range (60 to 100 beats per minute).

For example, the upper chambers may contract 300 times per minute, while the lower chambers may contract 150 times per minute.

When this happens, the heart’s upper chambers contract too fast for all the electrical impulses to conduct to the heart’s lower chambers. This causes the heart’s upper chambers to contract more often than they should, though the contractions may still occur at regular intervals. If a person has atrial flutter, the atria may develop an electrical loop, overwhelming the sinoatrial node. These electrical impulses help the heart muscle to contract in such a way that blood passes through its four chambers efficiently, then is sent throughout the body. When the heart functions normally, electrical impulses originate within the upper right-hand chamber of the heart, in an area called the sinoatrial node. Atrial flutter, a heart rhythm problem, occurs because of a malfunction in heart’s electrical system, leading to a faster-than-normal heart rate.

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