Definition

A condition where the heart beats faster than normal, usually over 100 beats per minute in adults.

Example

The doctor diagnosed her with tachycardia after she reported feeling her heart racing.

Conversation

I felt really anxious during my workout today.

That sounds rough! Did you experience any symptoms?

Yeah, my heart was racing — I think it was tachycardia.

You should definitely talk to a doctor if it keeps happening.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tachycardia → It is formed from "tachy-" (from Greek "tachys", meaning swift or fast) and "cardia" (from Greek "kardia", meaning heart). The word "tachycardia" refers to a condition where the heart beats faster than normal.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fast' ('tachy-') and 'heart' ('cardia') to remember that tachycardia means a fast heartbeat.

Visually Confused Words