HeartMath Scientific Foundations Part 2
HeartMath UK+IRL
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Your Heart’s Changing?Rhythm
The heart at rest was once thought to operate much like a metronome, faithfully beating out a regular, steady rhythm. Scientists and physicians now know, however, that this is far from the case. Rather than being monotonously regular, the rhythm of a healthy heart—even under resting conditions—is?actually surprisingly irregular, with the time interval between consecutive heartbeats constantly changing. This naturally occurring?beat-to-beat?variation in heart rate is called heart rate variability?(HRV).
Heart rate variability is a measure of the?beat-to-beat?changes in heart rate. This diagram shows three heartbeats recorded on an electrocardiogram (ECG). Note?that variation in the time interval between consecutive heartbeats, giving a different heart rate (in?beats per minute) for?each interbeat interval.
The normal variability in heart rate is due to the synergistic action of the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)—the part of the nervous system that regulates most of the body’s internal functions. The sympathetic nerves act to accelerate heart rate, while the parasympathetic (vagus) nerves slow it down. The sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS are continually interacting to maintain cardiovascular activity in its optimal range and to permit appropriate reactions to changing external and internal conditions. The analysis of HRV therefore serves as a dynamic window into the function and balance of the autonomic nervous?system.
The moment-to-moment variations in heart rate are generally overlooked when average heart rate is measured (for?example, when your doctor takes your pulse over a certain period of time and calculates that your heart is beating at, say, 70?beats per minute). However, the emWave Pro for Mac and PC technology allows you to observe your heart’s changing rhythms in real time. Using yourpulse data, it provides a picture of your HRV—plotting the natural increases and decreases in your heart rate occurring on?a continual basis.
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Why is HRV Important?
Scientists and physicians consider HRV to be an important indicator of health and fitness. As a marker of physiological resilience and behavioral flexibility, it reflects our ability to adapt effectively to stress and environmental demands. A simple analogy helps to illustrate this point: just as the shifting stance of a tennis player about to receive a serve may facilitate swift adaptation, in healthy individuals the heart remains similarly responsive and resilient, primed and ready to react when?needed.
HRV is also a marker of biological aging. Our heart rate variability is greatest when we are young, and as we age the range of variation in our resting heart rate becomes smaller. Although the?age-related?decline in HRV is a natural process, having abnormally low HRV for one’s age group is associated with increased risk of future health problems and premature mortality. Low HRV is also observed in individuals with a wide range of diseases and disorders. By reducing?stress-induced?wear and tear on the nervous system and facilitating the body’s natural regenerative processes, regular practice of HeartMath coherence-building techniques can help restore low HRV to healthy?values.