24th June 2024
Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation in time intervals between consecutive heartbeats. It is measured by the variation in the beat-to-beat interval. We often assume our heart beat is like a metronome, but the reality is a healthy heart has fluctuations that reflect the complex interplay of the autonomic nervous system - the balancing of sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) activity.
HRV is a crucial indicator of overall cardiovascular health and autonomic nervous system function. High HRV typically signifies a robust ability to adapt to stress and environmental changes, indicating good cardiovascular fitness and resilience. Conversely, low HRV is often associated with stress, fatigue, and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Monitoring HRV can be beneficial in various contexts, such as assessing stress levels, optimising physical training by preventing overtraining, and improving mental well-being. By understanding HRV patterns, individuals and healthcare professionals can make informed decisions to enhance health, performance, and recovery.
Many modern smart watches measure HVR now, so if you have such a device, keep an eye on this metric for useful insights into your health and performance.
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