Copyright &copy 1997-2010 by Fred SeneseComments & questions to fsenese@frostburg.eduLast Revised 08/17/15.URL: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/consumer/faq/why-does-alkaseltzer-fizz.shtml.
Atrial flutter symptoms can come and go, with fast heart beat episodes lasting from some hours or days. In some cases, atrial flutter happens all the time. With proper treatment, atrial flutter is rarely life threatening. Complications of atrial flutter can be serious, but they can usually be prevented with treatment.
When untreated, atrial flutter often leads to a rapid heart beat. During atrial flutter, the atrium can beat up to 300 times a minute, and every second beat gets through to the ventricle, resulting in a pulse rate in the range of 150 beats per minute (the normal heart beat is 60 to 90 beats per minute).