Onset Atrial Flutter

I am not sure if my incomplete question was mistakenly sent, so I will start over.

I am a 63-year old male who has always exercised and maintained a heart health diet (college swimmer and regular runner for the last 45 years).  My resting heart rate is 42-45 bpm, BP typically around 118/75, total cholesterol around 130 (risk factor ranges between .3 and .5), have never experienced any cardiac related issues (e.g. shortness of breath, palpations, chest pain, dizziness, normal EKGs and stress tests, etc.)

Two months ago I had severe onset vertigo, which appears to have been viral labrinthitis (doctor’s assessment).  When the EMTs arrive to take me to the ER, I was in Atrial Flutter with a heart rate of 28 bpm and a B/P of 140/90.  They administered atropine, which increased my heart rate to about 55 bpm (BP remained at 140/90).  Upon arriving at the ER, my heart was still irregular but not with obvious Atrial Flutter.  Shortly thereafter, it converted to normal rhythm and has remained that way.  It likely makes since for me to have an ablation of the Atrial Flutter Loop at some point.

My question is whether the severe onset vertigo could trigger an Atrial Flutter episode.  I know I was not in chronic AF 36 hours prior to the episode because I was completing a full stress test (part of routine physical).  I also had completed my full work out program 15 hours earlier.  Any help would be appreciated.
Bud  

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Vertigo would not cause atrial flutter but vertigo like symptoms can be caused by atrial flutter.  Classic vertigo is caused by inner ear problems.  Symptoms similar to vertigo can be caused by not getting enough oxygen to your head.  If your a slow heart rate associated with atrial flutter, it is conceivable that it might have caused the vertigo.  It might have only lasted for minutes or seconds -- atrial flutter does not always sustain, it can come in short bursts.

I hope this helps.