Understanding Heart Rate Variability and Your Well-being

What Is Heart Rate Variability?

Unlike heart rate (the number of beats per minute), heart rate variability measures the variation in time between each heartbeat.

A high HRV reveals how adaptable your heart is—a crucial indicator of your nervous system's health. Higher variability generally indicates better cardiovascular fitness, lower stress levels, increased happiness, and a calmer nervous system.

Research shows that HRV is influenced by stress, sleep quality, physical activity, and even emotional wellbeing. HRV is a window into how your body is responding to life's demands and how effectively it's recovering. High HRV takes your body from "fight or flight" into a more relaxed state.

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Improving Your HRV

Enhancing your HRV can lead to better overall health. Here are a few strategies to try:

Consistent breathing practices: Even 5 minutes of slow, deep breathing (6 breaths per minute) can shift your nervous system toward parasympathetic dominance, improving HRV.

Moderate exercise: Regular physical activity supports better HRV, but avoid overtraining which can temporarily lower it.

Quality sleep: Your HRV is highest during deep sleep, try to get 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

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How Acupuncture and Infrared Sauna can Improve Heart Rate Variability

Both acupuncture and infrared sauna can shift the body into a more relaxed parasympathetic state, allowing an immediate move from "fight-or-flight" to "rest-and-digest" mode. Additionally, acupuncture and infrared sauna sessions improve circulation providing more oxygen rich blood flow to your body, reduce inflammation, and support better sleep.

Regular acupuncture sessions help maintain your body's natural healing capabilities and resilience to stress. This makes acupuncture particularly beneficial for those with low HRV related to chronic stress, sleep issues, or inflammatory conditions.