Pulse rate more than 100 bpm is called as?

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

Explanation

Tachycardia is the medical term for a heart rate that is faster than the normal resting rate.
In adults, a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute (bpm) is classified as tachycardia.
The term originates from the Greek words 'tachys' (swift) and 'kardia' (heart).
It can be a physiological response to exercise or stress, or a pathological sign of an underlying condition.

Option B: This term refers to an abnormally rapid respiratory (breathing) rate, not heart rate. The suffix '-pnoea' relates to breathing.
Option C: This term describes a heart rate that is too slow, not too fast. The prefix 'Brady-' means slow.
Option D: This term refers to an abnormally slow respiratory (breathing) rate. The prefix 'Brady-' means slow and the suffix '-pnoea' relates to breathing.

Visual 1: Comparison Table - A table that clearly defines and contrasts Tachycardia, Bradycardia, Tachypnoea, and Bradypnoea, including their respective normal ranges for adults. This helps in differentiating terms related to heart rate versus respiratory rate.
Visual 2: ECG Strip - An electrocardiogram (ECG) strip showing a heart rate over 100 bpm to visually represent tachycardia.

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 (Heart Rate) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing tachycardia is a critical nursing skill as it can be an early sign of serious conditions like shock, hypoxia, fever, or cardiac arrhythmias.
When a nurse identifies tachycardia, the priority is to assess the patient for associated symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain, and to investigate the underlying cause.
What if? If the patient was a newborn, a heart rate of 150 bpm could be considered normal, as the normal range for a newborn is much higher (120-160 bpm). Context, especially age, is crucial in interpreting vital signs.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key information in the question: 'Pulse rate' and 'more than 100 bpm'.
Next, break down the medical terms in the options into their prefixes and root words.
Recall or deduce the meanings: 'Tachy-' means fast, 'Brady-' means slow, '-cardia' relates to the heart, and '-pnoea' relates to breathing.
Combine the parts: 'Tachycardia' means fast heart rate, 'Tachypnoea' means fast breathing, 'Bradycardia' means slow heart rate, and 'Bradypnoea' means slow breathing.
Match the question's requirement (fast pulse rate) with the correct term (Tachycardia).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

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