A sustained heart rate of greater than 90 beats per minute describes?

A sustained heart rate of greater than 90 beats per minute is classified as sinus tachycardia. This condition occurs when the heart's natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, generates impulses at a faster rate than normal. It is crucial to understand that sinus tachycardia signifies a physiological response to factors like exercise, anxiety, or fever, as well as potential underlying medical conditions.

In this rhythm, the heartbeat remains regular, meaning that each beat follows the previous one at a consistent interval, which differentiates it from other types of tachycardia that may be irregular. Recognizing and understanding sinus tachycardia is essential in clinical practice, as it can be indicative of various physiological and pathological states, guiding further evaluation and management.

Understanding the definitions of the other terms can help contextualize why they don't describe a heart rate greater than 90 beats per minute appropriately. For instance, sinus bradycardia refers to a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute and is characterized by a slower sinus node firing. Atrial flutter is a specific type of arrhythmia that results in a rapid but typically organized rhythm, which may present at varying rates but is not defined merely by the heart rate