Arrhythmia is of two different types. Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation are both those types of arrhythmias. Both of them have a common occurrence. They occur when there are some issues with the electrical signals in your heart. The signals are those that make your heart contract.
This basically occurs when those signal is going at a much faster pace than the usual ones. The biggest and main difference among these is how those electrical signals that are now moving fast are organized.
Normally in AFib, the rhythm of the heart is about 100-175 bpm. But in this case, it ranges too much higher than this. The pace of heartbeat in atrial flutter is as fast as about 300 bpm out of all the beats, only a second beat gets through the ventricle.
Key Takeaways
- AFib and atrial flutter are both types of arrhythmia, but they have different characteristics.
- AFib is irregular and rapid, while atrial flutter is regular and fast.
- AFib is more common than an atrial flutter, and both can lead to serious health issues if left untreated.
AFib vs Atrial Flutter
Atrial Flutter is a less severe heart condition compared to Afib. Symptoms of Atrial Flutter are less severe compared to Afib. Unlike Afib, Atrial Flutter has more chances of getting cured. AFib is more commonly found in people compared to Atrial Flutter despite being more severe.
In the arrhythmia AFib, there are dissimilarities in the pace of electrical signals in the upper two chambers of your heart, that is, atria. The signals move faster than their usual pace.
The atria basically lose coordination with the bottom two chambers of the heart, that is, the ventricles. All of this makes a quite rapid and irregular rhythm of the heart.
In atrial flutter, the disconnection of signals in the heart is quite like atrial fibrillation. Only the signals are quite organized and not much chaotic. The heart’s upper two chambers, that is, the atria, beat faster than the lower two chambers of the heart, the ventricles.
The pace is as fast as about 300 bpm out of all the beats, only a second beat gets through the ventricle.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of comparison | AFib | Atrial Flutter |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical pulses | The electrical pulses are quite chaotic. | The pulses are organized |
| Common | The happening of AFib is quite common among patients. | The happening of atrial flutter is not that common, even if there is a previous record of heart problems. |
| Ablation therapy | Ablation therapy is not that successful in AFib. | Ablation therapy is more successful and applicable for people with atrial flutter. |
| Symptoms | Symptoms of AFib are quite severe. | Symptoms are not that severe. |
| ECG | The ECG shows an irregular pattern of ventricular rate. | In the ECG, there is a pattern of SAWTOOTH. |
What is AFib?
In the arrhythmia AFib, there are dissimilarities in the pace of electrical signals in the upper two chambers of your heart, that is, atria. The signals move faster than their usual pace.
The atria basically lose coordination with the bottom two chambers of the heart, that is, the ventricles. All of this makes a quite rapid and irregular rhythm of the heart. Normally in AFib, the rhythm of the heart is about 100-175 bpm. But in this case, it ranges too much higher than this.
A few factors majorly affect the happening of AFib, and they previously happen heart attacks, high blood pressure because of hypertension, any of the major heart diseases, abnormalities in the valves of the heart, and congenital disabilities can also be one of the causes of AFib.
What is Atrial Flutter?
In atrial flutter, the disconnection of signals in the heart is quite like atrial fibrillation. Only the signals are quite organized and not much chaotic. The heart’s upper two chambers, that is, the atria, beat faster than the lower two chambers of the heart, the ventricles.
The pace is as fast as about 300 bpm out of all the beats, only a second beat gets through the ventricle. Treatment of both AFib and atrial flutter are quite the same. It includes restoring the previous and normal heart rhythm and preventing the heart from any sort of clots.
A few major factors that affect the happening of atrial flutter are any recent heart surgery, any serious infection, previously happened heart attack, congenital disability, misuse of alcohol or drugs in high amounts, and diabetes.
Main Differences Between AFib and Atrial Flutter
- The main difference between AFib and Atrial flutter is that the electrical pulses are quite chaotic, while the pulses are organized
- The happening of AFib is quite common among patients, but the happening of atrial flutter is not that common even if there is a previous record of heart problems.
- Ablation therapy is not that successful in AFib, while ablation therapy is more successful and applicable for people with atrial flutter.
- Symptoms of AFib are quite severe, but symptoms in atrial flutter are not that severe.
- The ECG shows an irregular pattern of ventricular rate in AFib, while in atrial flutter, the ECG there is a pattern of SAWTOOTH.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022522319367236
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/01.res.74.5.882
Last Updated : 05 August, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The article effectively highlights the factors contributing to the occurrence of AFib and atrial flutter, providing valuable knowledge for patients and healthcare professionals.
I completely agree, understanding the risk factors for these arrhythmias is essential for prevention and early intervention.
It’s important to recognize the differences in occurrence and severity between AFib and atrial flutter, as well as their impact on health if left untreated.
Absolutely, understanding these differences is crucial for proper diagnosis and management of arrhythmias.
The article effectively outlines the factors that can lead to AFib and atrial flutter, providing valuable information for diagnosing and managing these conditions.
Yes, understanding the causes of these arrhythmias is essential for guiding treatment and preventive measures.
The comparison of ECG patterns in AFib and atrial flutter is very informative, providing insights into the diagnostic differences between these arrhythmias.
I agree, the article effectively clarifies the key ECG findings for distinguishing between AFib and atrial flutter.
It’s interesting to see the differences between AFib and atrial flutter. This article has been very informative.
I agree, it’s important to understand the distinctions between these two types of arrhythmias.
The article effectively highlights the main differences between AFib and atrial flutter, providing a comprehensive understanding of both conditions.
I agree, the key takeaways are very informative and help clarify the distinctions between AFib and atrial flutter.
The explanation of the electrical signals and heart rhythm in AFib and atrial flutter is very clear and helps in understanding the pathophysiology of these conditions.
I agree, the article provides a thorough insight into the cardiac electrophysiology underlying AFib and atrial flutter.
The detailed comparison of ablation therapy outcomes for AFib and atrial flutter sheds light on the effectiveness of this treatment for both conditions.
I found the insights into ablation therapy for AFib and atrial flutter particularly useful for understanding the different approaches to managing these arrhythmias.
Absolutely, the comparison of ablation therapy outcomes is very informative for patients and clinicians considering treatment options.
The detailed explanation of symptoms and ECG patterns for AFib and atrial flutter provides a comprehensive insight into these arrhythmias.
I agree, the comparison of symptoms and ECG findings is very enlightening and helps in distinguishing between AFib and atrial flutter.
I appreciate the detailed comparison table. It provides a clear understanding of the differences in characteristics and treatment options for both AFib and atrial flutter.
I found the explanation of electrical pulses and their organization in AFib and atrial flutter very insightful.
Yes, the comparison table is very useful for a quick overview of the key differences between the two types of arrhythmias.