Tachycardia

A false heart rate applied to adults to rates over 100 beats per minute.

Excessive rapidity in the action of the heart, usually with a heart rate above 100 beats per minute.

An abnormally rapid or high heart rate.

Rapid heartbeat, as occurs after exercise; may also occur, without undue exertion, as a result of anxiety, and in anaemia and vitamin Eh deficiency.

Increased heart beat.

Abnormally fast heartbeat.

Abnormally rapid heart action as a disease.

Pulse over 100 beats per minute.

An unduly rapid heartbeat.

Abnormally rapid heart beat, generally defined as exceeding 100 beats per minute.

Rapid heartbeat; more than 100 beats per minute.

Abnormally fast heartbeat, generally more than 100 beats per minute.

Abnormally rapid heart rate (over 100 beats per minute in an adult). Heart rate normally increases in response to fear and excitement and also in conditions characterized by lack of oxygen, as in congestive heart failure, hemorrhage, or shock.

An abnormally rapid heartbeat. In an adult, tachycardia refers to a heartbeat in which an abnormal focus in the upper region of the heart sporadically triggers a rapid heart rate. Symptoms include palpitations (uncomfortably rapid heartbeat), shortness of breath, chest pain, light-headedness, and fainting. Tachycardia is classified and treated by its point of origin in the heart. Tachycardia may be caused by exercise, stress, congenital heart defects (those present at birth), cardiomyopathy (impaired heart muscle function), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), or kidney failure.

An increase in the heart rate above normal. Sinus tachycardia may occur normally with exercise or excitement or it may be due to illness, such as fever. Arrhythmias may also produce tachycardia (ectopic tachycardia).

A rise in the heart rate above the normal range at rest 60-100 beats a minute sometimes accompanied by irregularities in rhythm (arrhythmia). Its importance depends upon what part of the heart’s conducting tissue it arises from. For example, sinus tachycardia is simply a more rapid version of the normal heartbeat, arising from the sinus node (the heart’s natural pacemaker); it occurs with exercise, emotional excitement or fever. Supraventricular tachycardia arises from the atria, the heart’s upper cavities. It may be short-lasting (called ‘paroxysmal’) and not need treatment, or it may interfere with the heart’s pumping efficiency and so need treatment. Ventricular tachycardia, arising from the ventricles, tends to occur when there is other heart disease present. It is potentially dangerous and requires urgent treatment.

An abnormally rapid heart rate, greater than 100 beats per minute (bpm) in adults.

An accelerated heart rate, typically exceeding 100 beats per minute.

An elevated heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute in adults, tachycardia is notably higher than the typical average of 72–78 beats per minute. While it’s normal for healthy individuals to experience tachycardia during physical exertion, a rapid heart rate at rest could be triggered by various factors such as fever, stress, an overactive thyroid, heart disease, excessive caffeine consumption, or the use of anticholinergic medications.

Tachycardia comes in multiple forms, each stemming from different regions of the heart. These types include atrial fibrillation, sinus tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia.