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My Surprising Experiences with Heart Rate Variability and Stress
It was not expected, and ChatGpt may not be the best resource.
A few years ago, I was introduced to the concept of heart rate variability and stress and this variability as a guide to wellness and performance.
I was fascinated, as I have always been passionate about measuring my health and performance. I logged tens of kilometres of running and cycling and subjected myself to painful VO2 max tests.
To start this new measure, my first step was to change my ageing Garmin to an Apple watch. And, as it turned out, this change was made extremely easy as it came as a gift from my youngest stepson, who commented,
“When you get to your age, you probably won’t get too many presents!”
He’s right!
What is Heart Rate Variability or HRV?
HRV is simply the subtle variations in the time between each heartbeat, reflecting the dynamic interplay between the sympathetic system — gearing for action and the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps rest and recovery.
A healthy HRV signifies a well-balanced nervous system, which is crucial for resilience to stress.
