Heart rate variability - what is is, why is it important, how to improve, what to track
This question may have been answered already! Apologies if so. I recently started tracking heart rate variability with my fitbit watch (can't afford an Oura ring yet ;)). I was surprised to see that for the last three nights, the measurement has been quite low. I'm a 47 year old woman, with (according to charts I've consulted), a pretty good resting heart rate for my age and sex (although it could be better and has gone up during COVID), but my HRV was 25-26! I thought it was supposed to be double that for someone my age ... not sure what this means. Also, 3 data points does not a trend make so will wait until I have a month's worth of data. Are all devices the same in reliability and method to measure HRV? How is it measured via a device like a ring or watch? Why is it measured during sleep? Are other times of the day better to measure? In the meantime, upping my zone 2 exercise, and especially deep breathing, yoga, and meditation to calm a nervous system that might be in overdrive despite my best efforts. Thanks for wonderful work you do! Podcast and this opportunity to connect via membership has legitimately changed my life for the better.