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What you should know about atrial flutter

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What you should know about atrial flutter

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Jim Harbaugh had a worrisome moment on the sideline early in the Los Angeles Chargers' 23-16 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 6.

Harbaugh began the Week 6 game coaching the Chargers on the sideline before heading to the medical tent without explanation. He briefly left the field and went back to the locker room in the first quarter, leaving many wondering if the 60-year-old was OK.

Finally, Harbaugh emerged from the locker room and took over the reins from interim defensive coordinator Jesse Minter with just over seven minutes left in the first quarter. Harbaugh finished with no further problems.

What happened to Harbaugh? The veteran coach explained his medical situation during his post-match press conference.

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What heart disease does Jim Harbaugh have?

Harbaugh told reporters that he was suffering from a heart condition that occurred during the Chargers' Week 6 game against the Broncos.

“It’s called atrial flutter,” Harbaugh said after the game. “I got into an episode (Sunday).”

This episode prompted Los Angeles medical staff to examine Harbaugh and ultimately take him back to the locker room. There, they gave him intravenous fluids and ran tests to make sure the trainer was healthy.

“I did an (electrocardiogram) and they said it was back in sinus rhythm,” Harbaugh told reporters. “And I said I felt good, so I’m back on the field.”

Harbaugh reiterated during his postgame press conference that he was feeling good. He also revealed that he planned to see a cardiologist on Monday following his incident.

“Trust the doctors,” Harbaugh said. “It's the heart, so you take it seriously, right? Trust the doctors.”

Monday Ravens coach John Harbaugh said his younger brother is feeling better and has dealt with the issue before.

What is atrial flutter?

Atrial flutter is a form of cardiac arrhythmia in which the upper chambers of the heart beat faster than the lower chambers. This causes the heart to beat in an accelerated but steady pattern, as the Cleveland Clinic explains.

“A normal resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute,” says the Cleveland Clinic website. “Atrial flutter can cause the upper chambers of your heart to beat 250 to 350 times per minute. This causes your lower chambers to beat rapidly in response, usually up to 150 beats per minute or more.”

Atrial flutter is caused by abnormal electrical signals in the heart. There is no cure for the condition, but it can be treated with medications and surgery designed to correct the heartbeat.

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Symptoms of atrial flutter

Atrial flutter causes the heart not to work as efficiently as it should and can lead to the following symptoms:

  • dizziness
  • shortness of breath
  • Lack of energy
  • heart palpitations
  • Fast pulse
  • Lightheadedness
  • Chest pain
  • Pass out

It can also weaken the heart muscle, form blood clots and cause drops in blood pressure that can lead to heart failure, according to the Cleveland Clinic. So it is a serious disease that needs to be monitored.

Atrial fibrillation vs. atrial flutter

Atrial flutter is similar to atrial fibrillation, more commonly known as “AF,” but there is one key difference. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, atrial fibrillation has no organized rhythm because the upper ventricles beat quickly and chaotically, often more than 400 times per minute.

During atrial flutter, the heart beats quickly but in a consistent pattern.

Contributor: Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY Sports

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