Good health means not just working out and eating healthy; you need to monitor your vitals, such as Body temperature, pulse rate, breathing rate (respiration), and blood pressure. Your body is a complex network of systems, and within this complexity lies the fascinating phenomenon of heart rate variability (HRV). You may not have heard such a term before, but measuring your heart function isn’t just about an EEG or an ECG; HRV or Heart Rate Variability offers a more comprehensive understanding of health and well-being, it is a valuable marker of cardiovascular disorders such as Hypotension, cardiovascular disease and the risk of heart attack. HRV is extremely significant in today’s fast-paced lifestyle, and by understanding yours, you can do much to improve your health.
What is Heart Rate Variability
Heart rate variability is the variation in the time intervals between your heartbeats. These intervals fluctuate slightly and are extremely small to detect by regular monitoring devices. These variations are regulated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. Your ANS, which includes your brain and nervous system, supports your heart, where your senses relay information to your brain about everything happening around you. The brain, with a hotline to your heart, signals it when to work slow or faster.
The ANS Consists of Two Branches:
Both PNS and SNS systems work together to maintain a balance in the body, and this balance is one factor reflected in heart rate variability.
The Importance of HRV
Your HRV is an important indicator of your ability to recover from stress. Those with a higher HRV are generally considered healthier individuals with optimum ANS function. When your ANS functions well, your heart adapts faster to changing situations to manage stress and relaxation. In contrast, low HRV is often associated with stress, anxiety, and a higher risk of various health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and psychological problems. High HRV means faster recovery from intense physical or mental activity, while Low HRV means your body struggles to return to its normal relaxed state.
Low HRV is usually considered a sign of existing or potential health problems and is common in people with a higher resting heart rate. The faster your heart beats, the less the chances of variability, and it is often observed in conditions like hypotension, diabetes, heart arrhythmia, asthma, anxiety, and depression. Studies have found how low HRV has been shown to be independently predictive of increased mortality in post- myocardial infarction patients, and heart failure patients.
Factors That Influence HRV
Several conditions and situations can impact the level of HRV, including Age. Your heart rate changes depending on your activity, beating faster when stressed, active, or in danger and slower when at rest or relaxed.
How To Measure HRV
Modern medical technology has made it possible to measure HRV and make it accessible to people. Heart monitors, smartwatches, and other wearable devices are integrated with photoplethysmography (PPG) or electrocardiography (ECG) to measure heart data and analyze HRV. Several mobile applications use a smartphone camera and flashlight to measure your HRV from a fingertip pulse. But, while they may not be 100% accurate, they offer some insight into the status of your HRV to help you make healthy lifestyle changes. Devices that offer better accuracy are those worn by athletes, which wrap around the chest or look like an oximeter that measures blood oxygen and pulse levels.
From a medical point of view, the EKG can accurately detect heart rate variability using sensors attached to your chest. Your healthcare provider may also provide a strap-on heart monitor to track your HRV for longer.
Normal Levels Of HRV: What Is a Good Number
HRV is not easy to interpret because it decreases by age and varies from individual to individual. Your doctor or healthcare provider is the best person to help you understand your HRV and what to do about it. In most cases, an abnormal HRV isn’t always a medical emergency, but it indicates your existing health and can indicate health issues or future problems. Normal HRV can range anywhere from below 20 to over 200 milliseconds, depending on various factors such as age, sex, physical fitness, and genetics; studies have found that HRV can even change with the season.
A common range of HRV for 20-29-year-olds falls in the 24-62 millisecond range; 45-year-olds are around 35-60, while the mid-range of HRV for 60-69-year-olds is closer to 16-28. Females of the same ages see a similar dip, from about 45-90 to 30-55. The preferred number for a good HRV is 50ms; however, measuring HRV can be extremely confusing. You must monitor your HRV over a certain period to determine your baseline or average number. HRV at night is the ultimate metric of heart health.
HRV At Night Is the Ultimate Metric of Heart Health
Heart rate variability is best measured when you sleep. This is because your HRV is unaffected by internal or external factors like exercise or mental stress. Moreover, being an extremely sensitive metric, HRV can be affected by drinking a glass of water, going to the bathroom, or watching TV. Sleep provides a clean window to measure and keep track of your HRV over a certain period to deduce your general health and whether you are stressed or relaxed.
How To Improve Your HRV
Your Take Away
Heart rate variability is an accurate and in-depth indicator of your general health. You can improve HRV by caring for your body and mind through exercise, good nutrition, and sleep. A health checkup is recommended annually.
At Enso Integrated Medicine, we understand the factors that impact your heart health which is why our model of health and cardiac care support comes with a comprehensive package to ensure optimum cardiovascular support and care. You might want to give us a call to know more.
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