Measuring HRV

HRV results vary according to how and when they are measured. The “gold standard” for clinical HRV assessment is the 24 h HRV recording[1]An Overview of HRV Metrics and Norms with the subject linked to an ECG machine in a strictly controlled environment. These recordings achieve greater predictive power than short-term measurements. Although the mathematical formulas are the same,… Continue reading Measuring HRV

HRV and risk of severe COVID-19

A recent long term study[1]Underlying Medical Conditions and Severe Illness Among 540,667 Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19, March 2020–March 2021 from the CDC established that of the 540,667 of patients who were hospitalised, 94.9% had at least one underlying condition. Essential hypertension (50.4%), disorders of lipid metabolism (49.4%), and obesity (33.0%) were the most common.  In a earlier… Continue reading HRV and risk of severe COVID-19

Using the Android app for the first time

The Android app is an integral part of the HRV Health platform. The app collects the interbeat interval (IBI) data from the Polar H10 heart rate monitor (HRM), and loads that data onto the platform. The platform and the app use the HRM device ID as the mechanism to uniquely identify the user’s data. So,… Continue reading Using the Android app for the first time

Using the iOS app for the first time

The iOS app is an integral part of the HRV Health platform. The app collects the interbeat interval (IBI) data from the Polar H10 heart rate monitor (HRM), and loads that data onto the HRV Health Platform. The platform and the app use the HRM device ID as the mechanism to uniquely identify the user’s… Continue reading Using the iOS app for the first time

The benefits of measuring Heart Rate Variability

Heart rate variability gives users a daily measure of their health status. It also provides the elite athlete with a powerful metric of how their body is responding to training.  A health heart is not a metronome[1]An Overview of Heart Rate Variability Metrics and Norms, even when the pulse rate is constant. The interval between… Continue reading The benefits of measuring Heart Rate Variability

COVID-19 is here for the long term

In 2000 Philip Morris in the Czech Republic commissioned a report that confirmed that smoking has a positive benefit on the cost of healthcare. The study found that smoking kills before other morbidities that require expensive treatment take hold, so saving the financial burden on the taxpayer[1]Public Finance Balance of Smoking in the Czech Republic.… Continue reading COVID-19 is here for the long term

The great vaccinate debate

We are seeing history repeat itself. The Ebola epidemic in West Africa was mishandled[1]Ebola’s lessons: How WHO mishandled the crisis. The people of the affected countries opposed the restrictions that prevented transmission, because their governments had a record of lying to their people. Why should they be trusted? And we looked on and said, “how… Continue reading The great vaccinate debate

Staying alive with HRV

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) reliably tests health conditions ranging from respiratory diseases and cardiovascular ailments[1]ANS Clinical Studies to COVID-19[2]Assessment of physiological signs associated with COVID-19 measured using wearable devices. HRV improves with increased levels fitness[3]Heart rate variability and aerobic fitness. HRV declines with age[4]Short-Term Heart Rate Variability—Influence of Gender and Age in Healthy Subjects. It’s… Continue reading Staying alive with HRV

Switzerland’s healthcare problem

Switzerland’s healthcare system is amongst the world’s best, when you need it, and the worst if you don’t need it or can’t afford it. Insurance premiums finance the health system. As with all insurance there is cross-subsidisation. But with Switzerland’s healthcare, it’s the poor subsidising the rich. Switzerland’s healthcare is the world’s second most expensive, after America.… Continue reading Switzerland’s healthcare problem