What condition is characterized by a fast pulse rate?

Tachycardia is the condition characterized by an abnormally fast pulse rate, generally defined as a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute in adults. This condition can arise from various factors, including physical exercise, stress, anxiety, or underlying health issues such as heart disease, fever, or anemia. Understanding tachycardia is crucial in healthcare because it can signal inadequate blood flow or oxygen to the body's organs and tissues if persistent or symptomatic.

Bradycardia refers to a slow heart rate, usually below 60 beats per minute, which is different from tachycardia. Arrhythmia describes irregular heartbeats, where the rhythm can be too fast, too slow, or erratic, encompassing a broader category that includes tachycardia. Palpitations are the sensation of feeling one's heart beating fast or irregularly, which may accompany tachycardia but do not define the condition itself. Thus, the most accurate term for a fast pulse rate is indeed tachycardia.