Heart Rate Variability

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measurement of how the time between heartbeats changes. It’s controlled by interactions between the heart and the brain, and it can indicate how well the autonomic nervous system is functioning. In general, a higher HRV correlates with lower stress and better health. 

Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, or dysautonomia, is a hallmark feature of ME/CFS. Therefore, HRV can be an important indicator of health status in people with ME/CFS and related conditions.

One easy method of measuring and tracking HRV is through wearable devices like Garmin watches, Fitbit, or Oura rings. Several OMF research studies use wearable devices, including our ongoing clinical trial. The Life Improvement Trial (LIFT) will specifically analyze HRV, collected through Garmin watches, as a secondary outcome measure. Read more about the LIFT on our website.