What does tachycardia indicate in a patient?

Tachycardia refers specifically to an increased heart rate, typically defined as a resting heart rate that exceeds 100 beats per minute in adults. This condition can signal various underlying issues, such as stress, anxiety, fever, anemia, heart conditions, or other medical problems. Monitoring heart rate is a crucial aspect of assessing a patient’s cardiovascular health, and understanding tachycardia's implications is vital for providing effective patient care. Recognizing that a rapid heart rate can indicate an underlying issue allows EMTs to prioritize interventions, like obtaining a more comprehensive patient history or initiating further assessments to determine the cause of the tachycardia.