Heart and Mind (Jan 2018)
Heart rate variability: An overview and a few immediate/short-term assessments
Abstract
Background: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a parameter used to investigate the autonomous neural system (sympathetic and parasympathetic system). Reduced HRV is a risk factor which correlates with physical and psychological stress, psychoneuroendocrineimmunology dysregulation as well as with aging. HRV is considered a reliable parameter to investigate psycho-physical resilience, the latter being considered a key-factor for human longevity and the final target of hormesis pathways as well. Different chemical, physical, psychological stressors may interfere with HRV. Aims: The aim of our observational study was to assess the possible changes in HRV changes induced by a few targeted stimulations: breathing, maqui nutraceutical intake, physical activity and thermal stress, and maqui nutraceutical intake. Patients and Methods: An observational study was performed on 4 groups of subjects, for a total of 112 individuals, who underwent HRV analysis after administration of different stressors/stimuli, such as breathing, thermal stimulation, Maqui 500 ® nutraceutical intake and physical activity. The investigated parameters were: SDNN, RMSSD, MHRR, mean heart rate (MHR) and the three frequency-domain based bands (VLF, LF, HF). Results: Our outcomes demonstrate that HRV assessment is a useful and reliable investigation to highlight and monitor the effects of these stressors. Breathing was the stimulus which induced the most significant variation in HV parameters. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the short duration of the follow-up, immediate/short-term HRV assessment showed statistically significant variations of the main parameters (e.g. SDNN, RMSSD and frequency bands) in a few cases after stimuli exposure. Studies including larger cohorts and longer follow-up are needed and justified to corroborate our outcomes furthermore.
Keywords
