What is indicated by a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute?

A heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute is classified as tachycardia. This condition is recognized when the heart beats faster than the normal resting rate, which typically lies between 60 to 100 beats per minute. Tachycardia can arise from a variety of physiological and pathological factors, including but not limited to exercise, anxiety, fever, or underlying heart conditions.

Understanding tachycardia is crucial for healthcare professionals, as it can be a compensatory response to situations requiring increased blood flow and oxygen delivery, or it may signal an underlying issue that needs further investigation. Identifying and managing tachycardia is essential in clinical settings, as prolonged or excessive rapid heart rates can lead to complications such as decreased cardiac output or myocardial ischemia.