Biofeedback is an effective method for training heart rate variability.
What is heart rate variability, also known as HRV?
Did you know that the heart does not beat regularly like a ticking clock? The heart beats at irregular intervals, and heart rate variability is the variation in time between each heartbeat. In English, this is referred to as heart rate variability, but often just the short version HRV is used.
High heart rate variability is a healthy sign, and indicates that your nervous system is adaptable. High heart rate variability does not mean that your heart rate is high or low, but that your heart rate follows a natural rhythm. This means that your heart rate goes up and down at regular intervals, in time with your breathing.
Low heart rate variability is a sign of imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. Heart rate variability can be reduced in people with various health challenges, such as migraines, especially during a migraine attack, but also when you are under stress.
By training to increase heart rate variability, you can make your nervous system more resilient to stress. Biofeedback is an effective method for training heart rate variability.
What is biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a method that helps you gain better control over your body. You use technological equipment that measures things like heart rate, muscle tension, or skin temperature. You get real-time feedback—for example, on a screen—so you can see how your body is responding.
When you see how your body behaves, it becomes easier to practice calming or adjusting your reactions. Over time, new bodily reaction patterns will become automatic in your everyday life. This can make you less stressed, help you sleep better, reduce pain, and help with tension in the body.
