heart rate fluctuations
Analysis of the HRV is traditionally depicted in three graphs: the rhythmogram, the histogram and the control diagram.
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Even in ancient Chinese medicine it was known that a person would die if the heart lost its regulatory capacity. Regulation is therefore a fundamental prerequisite for health and well-being. Without sufficient regulation, the organ systems cannot maintain their functions and thus function disorders result that subsequently lead to diseases. After a heart attack, stroke and with chronic diseases the autonomic regulation is restricted or blocked. From burnout to depression the metabolic syndromes caused by a dysbalance in the autonomic nervous system functions can be detected. The most important parameters with such function disorders is the variability of the heart rate as an indicator of regulation capacity. The heart rate variability is the most important parameter for the exact assessment of the functional vitality, of health and well-being. Health, zest for life, well-being and functional vitality are in very close relationship with the regulatory processes in the system of basic regulation. All energy exchange processes on a biological and informational level are therefore subject to regulation, scope of regulation and adaptation behaviour in the autonomic nervous system. The self-healing strength of the immune system and the self-heaing strength of the soul can only be activated in a parasympathetic tone position. Regenerating relaxation can only be effective if body and soul are united. This is where important issues for health prevention and medical wellness derive from. Heart rate variability (HRV) is an effective way of assessing bioregulation (of the autonomic nervous system regulation). |
Rhythmogram: The horizontal axis represents the timeline, which means the length of the examination period. For each heart beat, a vertical line is drawn on the horizontal axis. The height of the line is determined by the duration of each heartbeat. Thus, the duration of the individual heartbeats is displayed on the vertical axis. The upper end of each heartbeat is now the contour of a curve. If the biological system oscillates and thus displays an age-dependent control latitude, then the oscillation displays an irregular contour. The sympathetic nervous system dominates and the regulation capacity is reduced so that all points are almost identical in height and the contour of the curve shows an almost horizontal line. The system is strictly regulated. |
In terms of the information acquired, it is very simple because it only requires an ECG. From this the subsequent cardiac intevals will be analyzed. Despite the simple way in which data is acquired, the HRV provides extensive data on the state of autonomic nervous system regulation and the activity of the various control levels.
Control Diagram: The duration of each heartbeat is displayed on the horizontal as well as the vertical axis, which means that a beat will be displayed on the horizontal axis, the next on the vertical, then again on the horizontal etc. With a good scope of regulation, i.e. different lengths of heartbeat, there is a point cloud which is elliptical in shape. Strict regulation and sympathetic dominance lead to nearly identical long heartbeats. The point cloud moves diagonally into the lower left hand corner of the diagram. It is circular in shape and is focused almost to a point. (reporting).
Who measures heart rate variability?
At the moment only a few private hospitals and traditional clinics offer a heart rate variability examination. The measuring devices required for this are manufactured by different companies. Examples of clinics which interested parties can contact are: Erlangen University Hospital, University Hospital of Dresden or New York University.