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HRV (heart rate variability) tells you how well your autonomic nervous system is balanced. Higher values are usually better.
What is HRV?
Heart rate variability (HRV) refers to the variation in time between successive heartbeats, defined as RR intervals. And is used to measure the activity of the autonomic nervous system. It has been said that measuring autonomic nervous system activity can provide insights into an individual's stress levels, emotional state, and overall health. Since HRV is highly individual, there is no optimal range for everyone. To derive the highest value, you should look not at the absolute values but rather at the changes in your HRV from your baseline.
👋 Optimal HRV
An increase in heart rate variability (HRV) is generally a sign of better physical fitness and less stress, whereas a decrease in HRV is a sign of overtraining and a high-stress state.
Check out our recommendations to improve your HRV
However, it is important to note that HRV is a complex metric that can be affected by many factors. Interpreting HRV changes requires careful consideration of an individual's specific circumstances and health status.
- Your HRV is highly dependent on a good night's sleep. Check out our 😴Recovery Improvements 101 to improve your sleep.
- HRV is highly dependent on sleep. Getting adequate and good quality sleep is one of the most important factors influencing HRV. Sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality can decrease HRV, while sufficient sleep and maintaining a regular sleep schedule can improve HRV. Other lifestyle factors such as exercise, stress levels, and diet may impact HRV, but sleep is considered one of the most important factors.
- Overtraining can be detrimental to your HRV. To help prevent this, we have designed the Activity Zone, which will support you in determining the appropriate amount and intensity of your training. Avoid pushing yourself above your Activity Zone if your HRV is lower than usual. For more information, check out High Activity Score.
This page is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information is at the user’s own risk. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. They should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such needs.
