What term describes a heart rate that is above the normal range?

Tachycardia is the term used to describe a heart rate that exceeds the normal range, typically defined as a resting heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute in adults. This condition can result from various factors, including physical exertion, emotional stress, fever, or underlying medical conditions such as heart disease.

Understanding tachycardia is essential because it can indicate the heart's response to different stimuli or stressors. It might also be a sign of more serious health issues, necessitating further evaluation. Recognizing tachycardia allows healthcare providers to assess the patient's overall condition accurately and determine if further intervention is required.

In contrast, bradycardia refers to a heart rate that is slower than the normal range, while arrhythmia indicates any irregularity in the heartbeat, and asystole is a state of no cardiac electrical activity, leading to a lack of heartbeat. Each of these terms describes different cardiac conditions, helping to delineate various aspects of cardiovascular health.