Re: Atrial Flutter

Posted By Sandra on February 03, 1999 at 06:07:02:

In Reply to: Atrial Flutter posted by Vesna on February 02, 1999 at 16:41:46:






Hello,
You last answered a question for me on Jan. 19 and I thank you very much.  Here is my follow up question:
My mother was diagnosed with atrial flutter.  Her heart beat has been between 130-140 beats per minute for about the last 4 months.  
Before that, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrulation (her heart beat fast, but irregularly and not for more than several hours at a time).
What is the difference between atrial flutter, atrial fibrulation and tachycardia in symptoms, treatment and prognosis.
Also, my mother has somewhat elevated blood pressure and is being treated for that.  Her thyroid function is normal and she is otherwise in
very good health.  Can you please tell me what tests you would perform to diagnose the cause of the atrial flutter.  So far, my mother has had an EKG
and is scheduled for a echo cardiogram.  Nothing unusual showed up on the EKG.
Thanks
          =


Dear Vesna:
I'm not a doctor, but I believe that Tachycardia is when the heart beats more than 100 times per minute and can be either "sustained" (lasting hours) or "Non-sustained" (lasting minutes).  Atrial Fibrillation is when the upper left chamber of the heart "quivers" but does not beat and therefore does not pump blood out properly.  Atrial Flutter is rapid contraction of the atrium at a rate of 250-350 contractions per minute.
Hope this helps.  Best of luck to you and your mother!
Sandra