4 ms·

This article does not explain HRV very well. Would I be correct in thinking of it as the volatility between beats? Or the erraticness between beats? Let's say

by guelo 9y ago

This article does not explain HRV very well. Would I be correct in thinking of it as the volatility between beats? Or the erraticness between beats? Let's say I have a heart rate of 60 bpm. And my beats are 1 second -> .9 seconds -> 1.1 seconds While another person also at 60bpm beats are 2 seconds -> .5 seconds -> 1.5 seconds then the second person has higher HRV and is stronger, more rested, more calm, has more energy? It's strange to think that having more erratic heart beats is better.

mtw 9y ago
Think of it how the heart adapts to effort. A person who is well rested can have his heart change quickly to the environment or effort. The person is more alert, can pump blood to any desired organ etc Meanwhile a person who is tired or sick or under stress will have more trouble adapting to the environment. Whatever happens, the heart beats at the same exact rhythm - but it shouldn't. It should go fast when required and go slow otherwise
- rcar 9y ago
  Yeah, a very steady heart rate tends to be associated with higher mortality for badly injured people: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356445/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356445/
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
matt4077 9y ago
Yes, you're right. It's usually the standard deviation, but there are dozens of competing, correlated ways to calculate it (rmsd etc). But the underlying data is the volatility of beat-to-beat intervals. About half of my class at university (me included) actually took a deep breath when they learned about HRV because we had all at some point worried about our heart rate seeming to erratically change from second to second. We all just never worried enough to ask anybody.
clwk 9y ago
Here's the thing: the way HRV is measured reliably when used as a metric is with 'paced breathing'. You synchronize your inhalations and exhalations to a displayed pace (in for X seconds, out for X seconds, or whatever). The primary source of variability under those conditions seems to be that HR increases when inhaling and decreases when exhaling. Seen in that light, it makes more sense. Essentially, what HRV may measure is ability to actively and acutely lower HR (which is most naturally performed during exhalation). This is not so unlike how some exercise equipment will provide a fitness measure based on heart-rate recovery: how long does it take you to return to some percentage of your resting heart rate after having exercised? At this point, I'll make an analogy, which is meant only to be that. If you have a high income, you can afford to spend a lot of money on a day-to-day-basis. Depending on how you set things up, you might see a wild flux in bank balance, and that's just fine -- because you can afford it. Likewise, performance athletes experience highly-elevated heart rates regularly. Indeed, it's that stress which leads to fitness adaptations. Just as you need to spend money to make money, you need to stimulate the heart in order to strengthen it. High HRV (as far as I can tell), may largely correspond with the naturally-adapted ability to rapidly return to the calm, low-HR state characteristic of the well-trained athlete. When you live check-to-check, you have to budget very carefully and avoid variability in spending. You can't afford to venture, and you don't gain. When you know huge cash infusions are around every corner, you don't worry about spending. Likewise, the fit heart doesn't need to damp and suppress stimulus. Elevated heart rate is good (think about the positive moments in life which can cause this), as long as it doesn't lead to chronic stress but instead evaporates in the space of a breath or two.
- agumonkey 9y ago
  btw, I'm looking for ideas about breathing patterns. I've noticed blood flowing differently[1] if I pause with fresh air in my lungs before releasing it. Some docs says that breathing influences arteries constriction (or the opposite). I wonder if it helps increasing oxygenation .. [1] palms and feets get a tiny heat wave, also a sensation of relaxation in my veins
agumonkey 9y ago
It's odd, a shallow thinking would make me believe high HRV means potential heart failure. :)

by guelo 9y ago

mtw 9y ago

Think of it how the heart adapts to effort. A person who is well rested can have his heart change quickly to the environment or effort. The person is more alert, can pump blood to any desired organ etc Meanwhile a person who is tired or sick or under stress will have more trouble adapting to the environment. Whatever happens, the heart beats at the same exact rhythm - but it shouldn't. It should go fast when required and go slow otherwise

rcar 9y ago
Yeah, a very steady heart rate tends to be associated with higher mortality for badly injured people: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356445/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356445/

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

matt4077 9y ago

Yes, you're right. It's usually the standard deviation, but there are dozens of competing, correlated ways to calculate it (rmsd etc). But the underlying data is the volatility of beat-to-beat intervals. About half of my class at university (me included) actually took a deep breath when they learned about HRV because we had all at some point worried about our heart rate seeming to erratically change from second to second. We all just never worried enough to ask anybody.

clwk 9y ago

Here's the thing: the way HRV is measured reliably when used as a metric is with 'paced breathing'. You synchronize your inhalations and exhalations to a displayed pace (in for X seconds, out for X seconds, or whatever). The primary source of variability under those conditions seems to be that HR increases when inhaling and decreases when exhaling. Seen in that light, it makes more sense. Essentially, what HRV may measure is ability to actively and acutely lower HR (which is most naturally performed during exhalation). This is not so unlike how some exercise equipment will provide a fitness measure based on heart-rate recovery: how long does it take you to return to some percentage of your resting heart rate after having exercised? At this point, I'll make an analogy, which is meant only to be that. If you have a high income, you can afford to spend a lot of money on a day-to-day-basis. Depending on how you set things up, you might see a wild flux in bank balance, and that's just fine -- because you can afford it. Likewise, performance athletes experience highly-elevated heart rates regularly. Indeed, it's that stress which leads to fitness adaptations. Just as you need to spend money to make money, you need to stimulate the heart in order to strengthen it. High HRV (as far as I can tell), may largely correspond with the naturally-adapted ability to rapidly return to the calm, low-HR state characteristic of the well-trained athlete. When you live check-to-check, you have to budget very carefully and avoid variability in spending. You can't afford to venture, and you don't gain. When you know huge cash infusions are around every corner, you don't worry about spending. Likewise, the fit heart doesn't need to damp and suppress stimulus. Elevated heart rate is good (think about the positive moments in life which can cause this), as long as it doesn't lead to chronic stress but instead evaporates in the space of a breath or two.

agumonkey 9y ago
btw, I'm looking for ideas about breathing patterns. I've noticed blood flowing differently[1] if I pause with fresh air in my lungs before releasing it. Some docs says that breathing influences arteries constriction (or the opposite). I wonder if it helps increasing oxygenation .. [1] palms and feets get a tiny heat wave, also a sensation of relaxation in my veins

agumonkey 9y ago

It's odd, a shallow thinking would make me believe high HRV means potential heart failure. :)