What rate classifies as tachycardia in an adult?

Tachycardia is defined as an elevated heart rate, specifically when the heart beats more than 100 times per minute in an adult. This threshold is recognized in medical guidelines and literature, serving as a crucial indicator for clinicians when assessing a patient’s cardiovascular health.

Rates above 100 beats per minute can suggest potential underlying conditions such as anxiety, fever, anemia, or heart disease, and prompt further evaluation of the patient's overall health and circumstances. Monitoring heart rates is vital in clinical settings, especially in emergency medicine, where recognizing tachycardia can lead to timely interventions.

Other rates, such as those under 60 beats per minute, fall into the category of bradycardia, which is the opposite condition. Similarly, while 80 to 120 beats per minute includes tachycardia, only the rate above 100 distinctly categorizes it. Rates above 90 are not sufficient on their own, as they do not meet the established criteria for tachycardia.