Which statement best describes the clinical picture of sinus tachycardia?

Which statement best describes the clinical picture of sinus tachycardia?

• A. Rapid, regular pulse
• B. Slow, irregular pulse
• C. No symptoms
• D. Chest pain always

Answer: (A)

Sinus tachycardia is a fast heart rate that still comes from the sinus node, so the rhythm is regular and the P waves precede each QRS with a normal PR interval. In adults, the rate rises above 100 beats per minute, and the rhythm remains steady rather than erratic. This underlying pattern is what the question is capturing: a rapid, regular pulse. The absence of a slow or irregular rhythm differentiates it from bradycardia or irregular arrhythmias, and while tachycardia can cause symptoms like palpitations or dizziness depending on the cause, chest pain is not a defining feature and some people may be asymptomatic.