What is the medical term for a rapid heart rate?

Tachycardia is the medical term used to describe a rapid heart rate, typically defined as a resting heart rate over 100 beats per minute in adults. This condition can arise from various factors, including exercise, anxiety, fever, anemia, dehydration, and heart conditions. Understanding tachycardia is essential because it can indicate underlying medical issues that may require investigation or intervention.

Bradycardia refers to a slower than normal heart rate, typically below 60 beats per minute, and is not related to tachycardia. Arrhythmia encompasses a broader category of irregular heart rhythms, which may include both fast and slow heart rates, while palpitations refer to the sensation of feeling one's heart beating, which can occur during tachycardia but is not a medical term for the heart rate itself. Thus, tachycardia specifically denotes the condition of an increased heart rate.