Doctor explains what it means if they call you 'tacky' and you shouldn't be offended

If you've ever been left puzzled by medical jargon during a visit to the GP or hospital, you're not alone. One expert has clarified that a certain term, which could be misconstrued as an insult if overheard, is actually used to describe a specific condition.

Surprisingly, if your doctor refers to you as 'tacky', it doesn't necessarily mean that you appear cheap or shabby. While this term is typically used to critique something's appearance and is generally deemed offensive - with Cambridge Dictionary defining it as 'of cheap quality or in bad style' - it carries a completely different meaning in the medical field, according to one UK doctor.

Dr Michael, who is dedicated to dispelling poor health advice online, took to TikTok to clarify: "If you're in hospital and someone calls you a bit tacky - they don't mean tacky like Adam Levine or early 2000s Paris Hilton. What they actually mean is you're a bit tacky - short for tachycardic."

With nearly half a million followers on the social media platform, Dr Michael explained that being 'tacky' means your heart rate is faster than average, exceeding 100 beats per minute (bpm).

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The medical expert, who goes by @drmichaelsays online, added: "Unless you're wearing a Von Dutch hat, an Ed Hardy t-shirt and a pair of yellow sunglasses - and in that case I think they are actually calling you tacky."

Reacting to his video, one viewer said: "So either way it's not good to be tacky." Another chimed in: "I feel attacked. This was my first experience of 'tacky' on my first ever hospital shift."

One user joked: "So that's what the dizziness was when I was in A&E...I thought it was my leopard print spandex one piece."

The NHS clarifies that the official term for this rapid heartbeat condition is supraventricular tachycardia, commonly shortened to SVT.

This is a condition where your heart suddenly starts racing and can also abruptly slow down. The health service points out that while it's typically not serious, some individuals may require treatment.

Symptoms include an accelerated heart rate, which usually lasts for a few minutes, but can sometimes persist for several hours.

It can occur multiple times a day or just once a year – it varies from person to person.

Triggers for the condition can include caffeine, alcohol or drugs – but often, there's no apparent cause. It can strike at any age, with many people experiencing their first symptoms between 25 and 40 years old.

If you need more information about supraventricular tachycardia, seek help from your GP or visit the NHS website for further information.

Did you know about this condition? Comment below.