Dr. Andy Galpin

There's not a single metric I will show you today that is perfect, but it does have a lot of research behind it. So that's roughly what HRV is. It is, at our best guess, 50% genetic and 50% lifestyle. Admittedly, I am not thoroughly impressed with that research.

I think that number is going to change over time, but it is inarguable that some point of it is not within your control and some part of it is. Why that matters? When we get to the interpretation stuff later, it's not VO2 max. I can't just look at your HRV and tell you you're good or bad. You have to consider the fact that a large part of it is not within your control. Tough to interpret.

I think that number is going to change over time, but it is inarguable that some point of it is not within your control and some part of it is. Why that matters? When we get to the interpretation stuff later, it's not VO2 max. I can't just look at your HRV and tell you you're good or bad. You have to consider the fact that a large part of it is not within your control. Tough to interpret.

The numbers themselves aren't as specific as they are for other variables, again, like VO2 max. There's also a age-related decline that happens in your HRV. So it gets lower as you age. That said, a recent paper just came out, I think actually last year, And it argued pretty strongly that the age-related decline in HRV is not inevitable.

The numbers themselves aren't as specific as they are for other variables, again, like VO2 max. There's also a age-related decline that happens in your HRV. So it gets lower as you age. That said, a recent paper just came out, I think actually last year, And it argued pretty strongly that the age-related decline in HRV is not inevitable.

And if you maintain function and fitness through life, that HRV should not drop as much, if any, but certainly not as much as you think. And so those are things that we are learning more about, but that paper just came out, first time I've seen anybody even examine it. So we're going to have to see where those things end up shaking out to be.

And if you maintain function and fitness through life, that HRV should not drop as much, if any, but certainly not as much as you think. And so those are things that we are learning more about, but that paper just came out, first time I've seen anybody even examine it. So we're going to have to see where those things end up shaking out to be.

Now, HRV is generally associated with better health, and you can look at this in a variety of different ways, but from a physical, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary fitness perspective, it's generally pretty tied. It's not perfect. Just because VO2 max goes up doesn't mean HRV will go up, and the opposite as well.

Now, HRV is generally associated with better health, and you can look at this in a variety of different ways, but from a physical, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary fitness perspective, it's generally pretty tied. It's not perfect. Just because VO2 max goes up doesn't mean HRV will go up, and the opposite as well.

So they are related, but they're definitely not a one-to-one correlation, and it's, I'd say, a moderate correlation, so much so we basically factor them in independently. I've seen plenty of people with smashingly high and that will tell you almost nothing about their HRV and the opposite, okay?

So they are related, but they're definitely not a one-to-one correlation, and it's, I'd say, a moderate correlation, so much so we basically factor them in independently. I've seen plenty of people with smashingly high and that will tell you almost nothing about their HRV and the opposite, okay?

Now, the research will show, and I have seen this personally in my experience, we've coached a lot of men and a lot of women. Women just tend to be a little bit lower with their VO2 max. Doesn't mean it's worse, but it is just a little bit lower of a score, meaning more sympathetic drive, right? Not worse. Now, that may actually not mean that, but that's a conversation for another day.

Now, the research will show, and I have seen this personally in my experience, we've coached a lot of men and a lot of women. Women just tend to be a little bit lower with their VO2 max. Doesn't mean it's worse, but it is just a little bit lower of a score, meaning more sympathetic drive, right? Not worse. Now, that may actually not mean that, but that's a conversation for another day.

But nonetheless, Little bit of calibration on what this thing actually is. We now know HRV influences, and I won't say directly and only causes, something like attention and focus has dozens, if not hundreds of things that regulate it. So we need to make sure that we're hearing this correctly, right? It is just associated with, and it does influence, but it's not the only influence of HRV.

But nonetheless, Little bit of calibration on what this thing actually is. We now know HRV influences, and I won't say directly and only causes, something like attention and focus has dozens, if not hundreds of things that regulate it. So we need to make sure that we're hearing this correctly, right? It is just associated with, and it does influence, but it's not the only influence of HRV.

Everything from attention to decision making, emotional control, and then other things like what are called mental endurance. Now this particularly matters because mental endurance under stress is resilience. This is why we're talking about it, right? I want you to be more resilient to stress. In this particular example, can you maintain decision-making? Can you maintain focus?

Everything from attention to decision making, emotional control, and then other things like what are called mental endurance. Now this particularly matters because mental endurance under stress is resilience. This is why we're talking about it, right? I want you to be more resilient to stress. In this particular example, can you maintain decision-making? Can you maintain focus?

Can you maintain attention and memory skills in the presence of stress? Not just when you're baseline, not when you're fresh and okay, but what about when you become fatigued? That's what a higher HRV allows you to do. And that's why we're going to press forward and give you tools to improve it, enhance it, or if it's already good, to maintain it.

Can you maintain attention and memory skills in the presence of stress? Not just when you're baseline, not when you're fresh and okay, but what about when you become fatigued? That's what a higher HRV allows you to do. And that's why we're going to press forward and give you tools to improve it, enhance it, or if it's already good, to maintain it.

You could drown yourself in data, whether you want to look at systematic reviews or meta-analyses, but you'll find them. Heart rate variability is associated with an enormous number of health implications. Everything from...