British Vogue article by Rosamund Dean and Morgan Fargo, “HRV Is The Health Metric You’re Not Tracking (But Should Be)”
shares important advice from HRV expert Marco Altini, PhD Thanks for sharing this, Health & Human Performance Foundation
Link to article: https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/hrv-wellbeing
“What is HRV?”
“A person’s heart rate variability refers to the way in which their heart changes its rhythm with each beat. A higher number indicates resilience and longevity, while a lower number shows the body reacts to stress less well. As you fluctuate between stressful periods and periods of calm, this variability will change.”
“What factors affect heart rate variability?”
“Lifestyle factors such as stress, exercise, sleep, smoking and alcohol, as well as biological factors such as illness, hormonal changes and age can all impact heart rate variability,” explains Moment Wellness GP and lifestyle doctor, Dr Lafina Diamandis. This is why – if you track your menstrual cycle and your HRV – you’ll see that heart rate variability tends to change as you move through the month. “While we still have a lot to learn about how hormonal changes impact HRV, there is evidence to suggest that there is a significant decrease in HRV during the luteal phase (the second half) of the cycle,” she says.”
“Why is HRV so important?
That’s why I called on Marco Altini, a HRV expert and data science advisor at Oura, to ask what the heck is going on with my heart. “Normally, when our heart rate is higher, our HRV is suppressed, and those are signs of stress,” Altini explains. “When we are more relaxed, our heart rate is lower and HRV will tend to be higher. Your HRV is a more sensitive marker of stress than your heart rate, so it becomes more useful on a day-to-day basis.”
