Factors Affecting Heart Rate Variability

Abstract

The heart rate is individual for each person and it is influenced by various factors that lead to its increase or decrease. Good cardiac function is a prerequisite for a healthy life, and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a powerful tool for assessing the autonomic nervous system (ANS), in which the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems interact to regulate cardiac function of the vascular system. A high HRV is associated with a good state of health, while a low HRV is associated not only with pathological conditions in the activity of the cardiovascular system, but also with a number of other factors, such as: overweight, type 2 diabetes, stress and others. Tracking HRV over time and matching segments of data related to specific activities or life events can provide unique information about a person's physical and psychological health. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that the indices of HRV can be used as non-specific indicators of the impact of factors of a different nature on the human body.