What does the term "tachycardia" mean?

Tachycardia refers to an abnormally elevated heart rate, specifically defined as a resting heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute. This condition can be a physiological response to various factors such as exercise, stress, or fever, but it may also indicate underlying health issues like heart disease, anemia, or hyperthyroidism. Understanding this term is important in the context of monitoring patient vital signs, as it helps identify potential medical problems that require further investigation or intervention.

In contrast, a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute would be categorized as bradycardia, while irregular heart rates signify arrhythmias, and significant fluctuations in heart rate could suggest a number of other medical conditions but do not define tachycardia specifically.