Content HRV:
Heart rate variability and neurovegetative regulation
Well-functioning neurovegetative regulation is the key to health and well-being. The state of the neurovegetative regulation can be recognized by the change in the heart rate, the so-called heart rate variability (HRV).
ECG curve of a healthy person with different intervals between heartbeats.
Above all, our "internal brake", the parasympathetic nervous system with its main nerve, the vagus nerve, can optimally regulate the processes inside the body. A powerful parasympathetic system leads to a tight coupling of respiration and heart rate, which is known in medicine as respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA).
Optimal parasympathetic regulation of the heart rate of a healthy, athletic person. The increase in heart rate when inhaling and its decrease when exhaling can be clearly seen as an expression of a healthy and efficient parasympathetic nervous system.
Just as a good respiratory sinus arrhythmia indicates a healthy parasympathetic nervous system, a lack of the coupling between breathing and heartbeat is a clear indication of insufficient parasympathetic activity.
Heart rate curve of a person with high chronic stress. Despite deep breathing, there is no respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), the parasympathetic nervous system is weakened and no longer has any influence on the heart.
Our parasympathetic nervous system is sensitive to harmful influences. Chronic stress, lack of exercise, an unfavorable lifestyle and various diseases lead to "parasympathetic dysfunction". If this malfunction of the parasympathetic system lasts longer, health suffers. There is now well-founded evidence that a weakness in the parasympathetic nervous system is causally linked to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and Alzheimer's.
„You may need the vagus nerve to understand pathophysiology and to treat diseases“
Marijke DE COUCK, Boris MRAVEC and Yori GIDRON, Clinical Science (2012) 122, 323–328
Protective effect of a functioning parasympathetic system, visible from a high HRV, on the harmful effects of risk factors
BioSign pioneered the field of autonomous functional diagnostics (ANS analysis) and was the first to develop the RSA measurement (determination of respiratory sinus arrhythmia), originally a complex examination in highly specialized autonomous functional laboratories, into an easy-to-use "brake test" for everyone who are interested in the parasympathetic function test.
Other HRV measurements from BioSign such as short-term HRV, lying/standing, 24-hour HRV and point-of-care HRV (patient self-measurement at home) enable an even closer look at the vegetative regulation. Using HRV biofeedback, BioSign offers an innovative training option to improve neurovegetative regulation.
Example 24-hour analysis to identify stressful situations in everyday life and to assess regeneration during sleep.
The book by Nicole Franke-Gricksch and Jens-Falk Heimann, published in September 2015, is a good introduction to the topic of "heart rate variability".
It explains the basics and areas of application of this technique. The book is available in bookstores and also in our online shop.
Der Puls des Lebens Understanding the signals of the heart Nicole Franke-Gricksch, Jens-Falk Heimann 208 pages, with colored drawings, softcover ISBN 9783944697024 €24.90, PACs Verlag Order: PACs Verlag GmbH, Inner Neumatten 9, 79219 Staufen Tel. 07633 /93320-12, christoph.knuettel@pacs-online.com
