What arrhythmia is often described by patients as a "fluttering" sensation in the chest?

Atrial fibrillation is often described by patients as a "fluttering" sensation in the chest because it is characterized by irregular and chaotic electrical activity in the atria. This disorganized electrical activity leads to ineffective atrial contractions, causing an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. Patients frequently report feeling a sensation akin to "fluttering" or "racing" in the chest, which is a result of the atria not contracting effectively and the subsequent erratic nature of the heart rhythm.

This sensation is especially prominent due to the rapid heart rate that can accompany atrial fibrillation, sometimes exceeding 100 beats per minute, and the variability in the time interval between heartbeats, resulting in a feeling of palpitations. Understanding the patient's experience and description of their symptoms is crucial for clinicians in diagnosing and managing this arrhythmia effectively.

Other conditions like ventricular tachycardia, bradycardia, and supraventricular tachycardia can also produce abnormal heart rhythms, but they typically present with different symptoms. Ventricular tachycardia often leads to more severe symptoms due to decreased cardiac output, bradycardia is characterized by a slow heart rate and may not present with fluttering, and supraventricular tach