What is a flutter in the heart?

Atrial flutter is a type of abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia . It occurs when a short circuit in the heart causes the upper chambers (atria) to pump very rapidly. Atrial flutter is important not only because of its symptoms but because it can cause a stroke that may result in permanent disability or death.

A fluttering sensation in your chest is a specific type of heart palpitation that may indicate an atrial flutter . This condition is the result of an arrhythmia that causes tachycardia, which is a fast heartbeat (more than 100 beats a minute).

In atrial fibrillation, the atria beat irregularly. In atrial flutter, the atria beat regularly, but faster than usual and more often than the ventricles , so you may have four atrial beats to every one ventricular beat.