What does it mean when your heart flutters?

Atrial flutter is a type of heart arrhythmia, which is an abnormal beating of the heart, according to WebMD. It is caused by a defective electric circuit in a heart chamber called the right atrium. This abnormal circuit causes the heart muscle around the atrium to beat faster than normal.

Atrial flutter is a potentially dangerous condition because the heart's ability to pump blood is diminished when it is beating too fast, states WebMD. As a consequence, vital organs such as the heart muscle and the brain, may not get an adequate supply of blood. This can result in life-threatening conditions, such as a heart attack, congestive heart failure or stroke.