AFLs

AFLs is an acronym that can refer to several distinct concepts across fields. Common references include a medical condition, a historical labor federation, and various professional football leagues. Context typically clarifies which meaning is intended.

Atrial flutter (AFL) is a cardiac arrhythmia characterized by rapid, regular atrial contractions, typically around 240–360 beats per minute, with a variable ventricular response. It often produces palpitations, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Diagnosis is by electrocardiogram showing characteristic flutter waves. Treatment aims to slow the heart rate, restore normal rhythm, and reduce stroke risk, using medications, electrical cardioversion, and sometimes catheter ablation. Anticoagulation decisions depend on stroke risk assessment.

The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was a national federation of craft unions in the United States founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers. It pursued organized bargaining and economic gains through collective action, stressing skilled worker representation and pragmatic negotiation. In 1955 the AFL merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) to form the AFL-CIO, a major force in American labor relations. The AFL-CIO continues to influence labor policy, wage standards, and political advocacy in the United States.

In sports, AFLs has referred to several leagues using the acronym. Notable examples include the historical North American Football Leagues of the 1920s and 1960s, the Arena Football League (an indoor league founded in 1987), and, in Australia, the Australian Football League (the top national competition). The plural AFLs is used when discussing multiple leagues that have borne the acronym.