A heart rate of more than 100/minute is called?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Tachycardia is the medical term for a heart rate that is faster than normal, specifically over 100 beats per minute (bpm) in a resting adult.
The prefix 'tachy-' means fast or rapid, and the suffix '-cardia' refers to the heart.
It can be a normal response to exercise, stress, or fear, but when present at rest, it can also indicate an underlying medical condition requiring assessment.

Option A: Bradycardia refers to a slow heart rate, not a fast one. The prefix 'brady-' means slow.
Option B: Tachypnoea refers to a rapid respiratory (breathing) rate, not a rapid heart rate. The suffix '-pnoea' relates to breathing.
Option C: Bradypnoea refers to a slow respiratory (breathing) rate. The prefix 'brady-' means slow and the suffix '-pnoea' relates to breathing.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Terminology for abnormal heart and respiratory rates as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurately identifying and documenting vital signs is a fundamental nursing responsibility. Recognizing tachycardia is crucial as it can be the first indicator of serious conditions like shock, hypoxia, hemorrhage, or cardiac arrhythmias.
A nurse's immediate response to new-onset tachycardia includes a rapid assessment of the patient's overall condition, checking for associated symptoms like dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath, and notifying the healthcare provider.
What if? If the patient's heart rate was 50 beats/minute, the correct term would be Bradycardia. This would prompt the nurse to assess for symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, or fainting and to review the patient's medications for any that might slow the heart rate (e.g., beta-blockers).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key information in the question: 'heart rate' and 'more than 100/minute'.
Next, break down the medical terms in the options into their component parts (prefixes and suffixes).
Recognize that the suffix '-cardia' refers to the heart, while '-pnoea' refers to breathing. This allows you to eliminate Tachypnoea and Bradypnoea as they relate to respiration.
Recall the meanings of the prefixes: 'tachy-' means fast, and 'brady-' means slow.
Combine the prefix for 'fast' ('tachy-') with the suffix for 'heart' ('-cardia') to arrive at Tachycardia, which matches the question's description of a fast heart rate.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q7YrVj1lS42c7rHHvrdhbC

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 488-490

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 124-126

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 20-22

Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.