Put simply, heart rate variability is a measure of the normally occurring beat-to-beat changes in heart rate.
In the 1960’s, Walter Cannon introduced the concept of homeostasis and the widespread belief in the study of physiology became that all cells, tissues and organs strive to maintain a static, “steady-state” condition.
However, we now know that heart rate, blood pressure and nerve activity vary in complex and nonlinear ways, even during “steady-state” conditions. Therefore, the normal resting rhythm of the heart is highly variable, not the monotonous, metronome-like rhythm, which was the accepted assumption for many years.
Below is a tracing taken from an actual ECG to demonstrate this variable beat-to-beat rhythm:
What are the implications on physical health?
· Heart rate variability is at its highest when we’re young and steadily declines as we age
· Low (below normal) heart rate variability for your age is a strong independent predictor of future health problems, including all-cause mortality
· Low heart rate variability reflects a depleted autonomic nervous system and is associated with: inflammation, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, weight gain and Metabolic Syndrome
What are the implications on psychological health?
· Heart rate variability is an important indicator of psychological resiliency and ability to handle stress
· Higher levels of heart rate variability are associated with superior mental performance
· Reduced heart rate variability is associated with: anxiety, depression & lower self-regulatory capacity
· Low heart rate variability is associated with: behavior problems, difficulty regulating emotions, depression & generalized anxiety
HRV Coherence training is used to train the optimal state by learning self-regulation tools that improve mental function and response to stress. This training is possible because:
· The heart has its own complex nervous sytem, often referred to as the “heart brain”
· The heart sends much more information to the brain than the brain sends to the heart
· Signals from the heart especially affect the brain centers involved in strategic thinking, reaction times and self-regulation
*Images and information taken from the Heartmath Institute. Please click the link for more information and research references.