Which heart rate value is considered tachycardic?

• A. 60-100 bpm
• B. Less than 60 bpm
• C. More than 100 bpm
• D. 120-140 bpm

Answer: (C)

Tachycardia means the heart is beating faster than normal when at rest. For an average adult, a normal resting heart rate is about 60 to 100 beats per minute, so the threshold defining tachycardia is any rate above 100 bpm. That’s why the best answer is more than 100 bpm. A rate like 120–140 bpm is indeed fast, but it sits above the threshold and is not the defining cutoff used to label tachycardia. Values in the 60–100 range are considered normal, and less than 60 bpm is bradycardia. In real life, factors such as fever, anxiety, dehydration, medications, or heart conditions can cause the rate to rise above 100, especially when measured at rest.