A faster than normal heart rate, typically defined as more than 100 beats per minute in adults at rest. Can be a normal response to exercise or stress, or indicate underlying medical conditions.
From Greek 'tachys' (fast, swift) + 'kardia' (heart). The term appeared in medical literature in the late 1800s as physicians began precisely measuring heart rates. The Greek root 'tachys' is the same used in 'tachometer' and reflects the ancient Greek interest in measuring speed and motion.
Your heart can beat over 200 times per minute during extreme tachycardia - that's more than 3 beats every second! At these rates, the heart doesn't have enough time to fill properly between beats, which is why people feel weak and dizzy.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.