What condition is indicated by a rapid heart rate?

Tachycardia is defined as an abnormally rapid heart rate, typically described as exceeding 100 beats per minute in adults. This condition can arise due to various factors, including stress, anxiety, fever, anemia, or underlying heart problems. Understanding tachycardia is vital for healthcare providers, as it can be a symptom of more severe conditions, including cardiac distress or compromised hemodynamic stability.

In contrast, hypotension refers to low blood pressure, hypertension signifies high blood pressure, and arrhythmia is a broader term representing irregular heartbeats. While both hypotension and hypertension relate to blood pressure variations and might have secondary effects on heart rate, they do not specifically define a rapid heart rate. Arrhythmia does include disturbances in heart rhythm but does not solely describe an increased heart rate; it covers any irregularity in heartbeats, which could be slow or fast.