US Medical Term · symptoms
Rapid Heartbeat
Latido cardíaco rápido
Also: Taquicardia (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Rapid Heartbeat |
| Spanish (Español) | Latido cardíaco rápido |
| Chinese (中文) | 心跳過速 |
| Korean (한국어) | 빠른 심박수 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Nhịp tim nhanh |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Mabilis na tibok ng puso |
| Portuguese (Português) | Taquicardia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | หัวใจเต้นเร็ว |
| Japanese (日本語) | 頻脈 |
What it means
A rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) means your heart beats faster than 100 times per minute at rest. Common non-emergency causes include exercise, fever, anxiety, caffeine, alcohol, or dehydration. Medical causes include anemia, hyperthyroidism, infections, and heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). A sudden, unexplained racing heart — especially with chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or severe lightheadedness — is a medical emergency: call 911. If rapid heartbeat occurs frequently at rest or lasts more than a few minutes without a clear reason, notify your doctor. An ECG (electrocardiogram) can help identify the cause.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My heart has been racing at over 130 beats per minute for the last thirty minutes and I did not exercise.
Mi corazón ha estado acelerado a más de 130 latidos por minuto durante los últimos treinta minutos y no hice ejercicio.
I feel my heart beating very fast and I am also short of breath and dizzy.
Siento mi corazón latir muy rápido y también me falta el aire y estoy mareado.
My heart rate suddenly jumped to over 150 and it will not slow down on its own.
Mi frecuencia cardíaca saltó repentinamente a más de 150 y no baja por sí sola.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R00 Abnormalities of heart beatRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026