What does ‘tachycardia’ indicate?

Tachycardia refers to an abnormally fast heart rate, typically defined as a resting heart rate of over 100 beats per minute in adults. This condition can result from various factors including stress, fever, anxiety, anemia, or cardiac conditions, among others. By understanding tachycardia, healthcare professionals can assess the underlying causes and determine appropriate interventions or treatments. Recognizing this term is essential in the context of airway, breathing, and circulation assessments, as an elevated heart rate can impact a patient's overall hemodynamic status and may require immediate medical attention.