What term describes a rapid heart beat?

The term that describes a rapid heart rate is tachycardia. This condition is characterized by a heart rate that exceeds the normal resting rate, which is typically above 100 beats per minute in adults. Tachycardia can occur due to various factors, including exercise, anxiety, fever, or underlying health issues.

Bradycardia refers to a slower-than-normal heart rate, which does not fit the definition of a rapid heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation is a specific type of arrhythmia characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rate, but it is not a general term for any rapid heartbeat. Ventricular tachycardia describes a rapid heart rate that originates from the ventricles, which is a more specific condition. Therefore, tachycardia is the broad term used to indicate a rapid heart rate regardless of the underlying cause or specific heart rhythm involved.