Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability

Background

Heart rate variability (HRV) is defined as changes in the duration of consecutive cardiac cycles (heartbeats). Cardiac cycles may be measured by electrocardiography (ECG), which produces an electrocardiogram (EKG, for "Electrokardiogramm" in German). On an EKG, the pattern of a cardiac cycle has four major parts: a P wave (which represents the electrical vector spreading from the right atrium to the left atrium during atrial depolarization), a QRS complex (which represents depolarization of the right and left ventricles), a T wave (which represents repolarization of the ventricles), and a U wave (which represents repolarization of the papillary muscles). HRV is measured as the variation in duration between the R peaks on the QRS complexes between consecutive cardiac cycles.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls heart rate, HRV, and other involuntary functions such as breathing. HRV reflects the autonomic controls of heart rate. HRV is associated with arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, and other fatalities from cardiovascular diseases.

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Dosing & administration

    Adverse effects

    Interactions with pharmaceuticals

    None known.

    Interactions with herbs & supplements

    None known.

    Interactions with foods

    None known.

    Interactions with lab tests

    Interactions with diseases

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