Episodes of abnormally fast or racing heartbeat are referred to as?

Episodes of abnormally fast or racing heartbeat are referred to as tachycardia. This term specifically denotes a heart rate that exceeds the normal resting rate, generally defined as over 100 beats per minute in adults. Tachycardia can occur in different forms, depending on the origin and mechanism of the increased heart rate, and can be a response to various physiological conditions, such as stress, anxiety, high levels of caffeine, or underlying medical issues.

Understanding tachycardia is essential, especially in clinical contexts, as it can lead to more severe complications if not addressed. It distinguishes itself from other heart rate-related terms. For example, bradycardia indicates a slower than normal heart rate, while arrhythmia refers to any irregular heartbeat, which can be slow, fast, or erratic. Atrial flutter is a specific type of arrhythmia characterized by a rapid heart rate due to a reentrant circuit in the atria of the heart, but it is just one type of tachycardia rather than a general term. Hence, the most accurate term for episodes of an accelerated heart rate is tachycardia.