Pulse rate above the normal rate is called?

IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg Entrance-2017

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg Entrance-2017

Explanation

Tachycardia is the medical term for a heart rate that is faster than the normal range.
In adults, a resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute (bpm) is defined as tachycardia.
It is a common response to physiological stressors like exercise, anxiety, or fever, but can also signify underlying pathology.
The term originates from Greek: 'tachys' meaning rapid, and 'kardia' meaning heart.

Option A: Tachypnea refers to an abnormally rapid respiratory (breathing) rate, not the pulse rate. The normal respiratory rate for an adult is 12-20 breaths per minute.
Option B: Hyperpyrexia refers to an extremely high body temperature or fever, typically above 41.5°C (106.7°F). It is unrelated to the pulse rate, although fever is a common cause of tachycardia.
Option C: Arrhythmia (or dysrhythmia) refers to any irregularity in the heart's rhythm. While some arrhythmias are tachycardic (fast), the term itself describes the irregularity of the beat, not necessarily the speed. A heart rate can be slow, normal, or fast and still be arrhythmic.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Medical Terminology for Vital Signs as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary responsibility is the accurate assessment and monitoring of vital signs, as they are key indicators of a patient's physiological status.
When tachycardia is detected, the nurse must investigate potential causes (e.g., pain, fever, anxiety, blood loss) and assess for related symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, or chest pain.
What if? If a patient on a beta-blocker medication (which is designed to lower heart rate) suddenly develops tachycardia, it is a significant finding. The nurse should immediately assess the patient's full vital signs, check for medication compliance, and notify the healthcare provider, as this could indicate a worsening of their underlying condition or another acute issue.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Pulse rate' and 'above normal'.
This is a direct recall question asking for a specific medical term.
Analyze the prefix and suffix of the options if possible. 'Tachy-' means fast, 'pnea' relates to breathing, 'cardia' relates to the heart, and 'pyrexia' relates to fever.
Evaluate each option based on this knowledge: 'Tachypnea' is fast breathing. 'Hyperpyrexia' is high fever. 'Arrhythmia' is irregular rhythm. 'Tachycardia' is fast heart/pulse.
Match the definition required by the question ('fast pulse rate') with the correct term, which is Tachycardia.

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