Best Cardiologist in London

Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation are both heart rhythm abnormalities, and both these rhythm abnormalities can cause symptoms of palpitations, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ATRIAL FLUTTER AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION Atrial flutter is a regular rhythm that is due to a fixed distance “short circuit” within the right atrial chamber giving an atrial rate of 300 beats per minute (bpm). This typically gives a heart rate which is directly divisible by 300: for example 150bpm, 100bpm, 75bpm, 60bpm, 50bpm. This heart rate profile in such cases normally looks like a straight line – ie with a single heart rate, often at 150bpm throughout the daytime, and perhaps a little slower at 100bpm or 75pm at night, appearing in “steps”. In atrial fibrillation, the abnormal circuits are seen within the left atrium. There are multiple circuits with varying cycles within the left atrium, which leads to a characteristic irregularly irregular heart rhythm profile, where heart rate...

Emergency doctors can help make you arrive at a clear diagnosis with a simple ECG. Please do take a copy or if not, capture a photograph of that all-important ECG on your phone. It may be the only documentation of the palpitation you may get! This is crucially important for your cardiologist (specifically electrophysiologist – a cardiologist with a specialized interest in palpitations) to be able to make appropriate onward treatment recommendations at a later stage. If you are in persistent tachycardia, the emergency doctor can give you specific treatment for your condition. For example, if you have supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), you can be given a drug called adenosine which is highly successful at terminating or stopping the SVT. You can usually be started on a drug immediately such as a beta-blocker (something that ends in a – olol, e.g. bisoprolol, metoprolol, or calcium blockers such as verapamil or diltiazem) to help minimize further recurrences, and should be asked to be se...