What medical term is used to describe a rapid heart rate?

The term used to describe a rapid heart rate is tachycardia. In the realm of medical terminology, "tachy-" is a prefix meaning fast or rapid, while "cardia" refers to the heart. Therefore, tachycardia specifically denotes a condition where the heart beats at a rate that is faster than normal, typically exceeding 100 beats per minute in adults.

Understanding this term is essential for medical professionals, as it allows them to accurately describe and communicate about patients experiencing an elevated heart rate due to various underlying conditions, such as fever, stress, or heart-related issues. This specificity aids in determining the appropriate treatment or further diagnostic evaluation needed for the patient.

The other options relate to different heart conditions. Bradycardia refers to a slower than normal heart rate, arrhythmia indicates an irregular heartbeat, and palpitations describe the sensation of feeling one's own heartbeat, which can occur with both rapid and irregular heartbeats.