Heart Rate Variability

Question 1

Define stress

Answer 1

a feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal resources that they are able to handle

Question 2

What is the stress hormone?

Answer 2

cortisol

Question 3

Define heart rate variability

Answer 3

the variation in the time interval between heartbeats controlled by the balanced interaction between SNS and PNS

Question 4

Low HRV vs. High HRV

Answer 4

low HRV = BAD, impairs cardiac function, signs of ventricular arrhythmia after a heart attack

high HRV = GOOD, lowers stress, increased immune function, decreases anxiety and depression

Question 5

SDRR

Answer 5

shows amplitude of HRV… want this to be big

Question 6

RMSSD

Answer 6

reflects parasympathetic NS

Question 7

HR

Answer 7

max - min heart rate during one breath …. also reflects amplitude of HRV

Question 8

Frequency domain

Answer 8

reflects degree of modulation of sympathetic and/or parasympathetic tone

Question 9

What are the ranges of frequency domain

Answer 9

VLF, LF, and HF

Question 10

VLF (very low frequency power)

Answer 10

intrinsic (necessary) rhythm of heart

<0.003-0.04 Hz

Question 11

LF (low frequency power)

Answer 11

sympathetic AND parasympathetic control, 0.04-0.15 Hz … ideal power at 0.1 Hz

Question 12

HF (high frequency power)

Answer 12

parasympathetic control, 0.15-0.4 Hz

Question 13

What is a limitation of HRV

Answer 13

can only be taken on people with normal, sinus rhythm

Question 14

What is atrial fibrillation?

Answer 14

atrium beat faster than ventricles

Question 15

How do you optimize HRV?

Answer 15

• 6 breaths per minute

- Respiratory sinus arrhythmia

Question 16

define respiratory sinus arrhythmia

Answer 16

breathing slow and deep

Question 17

What happens during inspiration?

Answer 17

heart beats faster bc sympathetic activation and release of parasympathetic break

Question 18

What happens during expiration?

Answer 18

heart beats slower bc parasympathetic activation

Question 19

What reflex describes inspiration?

Answer 19

Bainbridge reflex

Question 20

Bainbridge reflex

Answer 20

breathing in increases chest cavity (more space) –> More blood is returned to the right atrium –> stretches atrium –> INCREASED HR

Question 21

What response describes expiration?

Answer 21

baroreceptor response

Question 22

Baroreceptor response

Answer 22

More blood is pumped out of heart and into circulation –> stretches baroreceptors –> tells heart to slow down –> venous return is reduced –> DECREASED HR

Question 23

Define coherence

Answer 23

simultaneous matching of HRV with respiration

Question 24

What are Mayer Waves?

Answer 24

the body’s natural BP oscillation at 0.1 Hz

Question 25

What happens when respiration and Mayer Waves are matched?

Answer 25

RSA and HRV are maximized