Most people know that having a healthy heart rate is important. Your heart shouldn’t beat either too fast or too slow. The heart beat should be at the right pace to provide a steady supply of blood, to all your vital organs and muscles, to survive, and thrive, in your environment. 

What many people don’t know, is that the natural variation in your heart rate is also important.  Your heart should not beat at a constant steady rate all day, it should vary depending on whether you are exercising or resting, happy or angry, nervous or relaxed.  This natural variability of our heart rate says a lot about how our bodily systems are coping with the demands of how we live.

Your brain is constantly measuring what is going on in your environment and reacts by constantly adjusting your heart rate accordingly. These natural changes can be measured and are called your heart rate variability (HRV). 

In your body your autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary functions, like breathing, digestion and sweating. The autonomic nervous system has two parts, the “rest and digest” part (parasympathetic) and the “fight or flight” part (sympathetic).  HRV occurs due to the balance between these two parts.

A good HRV is one that is high.  The higher your HRV, the easier you can respond to your environment and switch between “rest and digest” and “fight or flight”.  This means your heart can respond appropriately and adapt to your body’s demands and needs.  An example of this is to imagine you are suddenly in imminent danger.  Your nervous system must increase your heart rate to get more blood pumping to your muscles to work for you to escape the danger, to run or fight. However, when you are sleeping or resting, your body must recognise this slow state and lower your heart rate accordingly. 

Having a good HRV is a great health marker. It is an indication of good health, adaptability and better responses to stress and your environment and is thought to represent a healthy heart and body.

Heal > Adapt > Evolve