Which term describes rapid heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute?

• A. A fib
• B. AAA
• C. Tachycardia
• D. Pulse

Answer: (C)

Rapid heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia. Normal resting heart rate for adults is about 60–100 bpm, so when the rate goes above 100, tachycardia is the appropriate term. It can occur as a normal physiologic response (like exercise or fever) or from various medical conditions (such as dehydration, anemia, hyperthyroidism, or cardiac arrhythmias). Atrial fibrillation, while it can involve a fast heart rate, is a specific irregular rhythm with erratic beats, not just a rate threshold. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a vascular condition, not a description of heart rate. A pulse is the palpable sensation of a heartbeat, not the term used to describe a rapid rate. So tachycardia is the correct term for a rapid heart rate over 100 bpm.