What is HRV?

Heart rate variability, often referred to as HRV, is an accurate, non-invasive measure of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the body’s main control system for self-regulation. HRV is widely considered the most comprehensive biomarker of health and fitness.

Let's explore how HRV is different from heart rate and how it can be used to improve your well-being.

What is heart rate variability and why does it matter?

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measurement of the variation in time between successive heartbeats. You can track the indicator using the Coach Welly App and only your phone camera to get an important glimpse into how you respond to stress and how your health and well-being are trending.

Tracking your HRV helps you:

• Track quantified progress over time to see when your health, fitness, and well-being are improving or declining.
• Avoid overtraining.
• Tune in to your body so you can make smart, informed decisions about your health, fitness, and well-being.
• Prevent burnout from stress.
• Identify risk of illness early to accelerate recovery.
• Stay accountable to your goals.

To understand HRV, it’s important to know that the human heart is not a metronome. A heart rate of 60 beats per minute suggests one beat per second; in reality, there are millisecond variations between successive heartbeats. Some beats are more like 0.9 seconds apart while others are more like 1.2 seconds apart.

Interestingly, the healthiest hearts don’t have more steady, consistent intervals. Instead, these hearts react and recover from stressors and soothers quickly, causing heartbeat intervals to vary. Because of that, a high HRV (or more variety of time intervals between your heart beats) is the healthiest.

High HRV scores correlate with resilience, fitness, longevity, and strong mental health, while low HRV scores correlate with inflammation, reduced fitness levels, poorer health, and increased risk of chronic disease in the long term.

Tracking HRV creates a powerful feedback loop that can motivate behavioural change and make you more aware of how your lifestyle and habits impact your overall wellness goals.

Updated on: 03/11/2022