Abnormal heart rhythm

Description

Atrial flutter or abnormal heart rate. Atriums usually beat in the normal and regular rhythm of 60 to 80 beats in the minute. In atrial flutter, atriums beat very fast, but in the regular rhythm of approximately 90-150 times in the minute, on which ventricles react irregularly, provoking in that way rapid and irregular rhythm of the heart. Sometimes this disorder appears together with another type of irregular heartbeat, which is called atrial fibrillation. Main causes of this disease are mitral valve disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, thyroid disease, a blood clot in lungs, stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamines), excessive alcohol consumption, virus infections and stress caused by other diseases.

Symptoms

Pounding of the heart, dizziness, shortness of breath, fainting, chest pain, anxiety.

Overview

Anamnesis is being taken and physical examination is being done. Blood analysis is done in order to exclude disorder of electrolytes balance, heart attack, blood clot or thyroid gland disease. An echocardiogram is done to determine structural diseases such as mitral stenosis or atrial myxoma.

Tests

Complete blood count (CBC), biochemical blood analysis, echocardiogram (ECHO), electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), troponin and X-rays.

Specialists

Cardiology

Therapy

Every metabolic, physiological and structural disease is being corrected. Heatbeat is being slowed down by use of medicines such as calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil), beta-blockers (metoprolol, esmolol) or digoxin. It is often possible to restore normal rhythm by use of medicines or electrical shock (called cardioversion). When atrial flutter lasts more that day or two, blood clots may appear in the atrium. These clots can be transferred to the brain, causing the stroke, or to the other parts of the body. In order to avoid that, and before cardioversion (if the person has been in an atrial flutter for a couple of days), anticoagulants (medicines for blood “dilution”) are prescribed for persistent atrial flutter. Some patients have atrial flutter whole life, frequently with atrial fibrillation.