Autonomic Nervous System
Heart Rate Variability: What It Reveals About Your Health
Heart rate variability (HRV) is the measure of time variation between successive heartbeats, regulated by the autonomic nervous system. A high HRV indicates a healthy, responsive system capable of adapting to stress and recovery, while low HRV reflects physiologic strain or diminished resilience. Unlike resting heart rate, which provides a simple snapshot of cardiac workload, HRV gives insight into the balance between sympathetic ("fight or flight") and parasympathetic ("rest and digest") activity.