Invention:
This invention consists of a software package in combination with state-of-the-art hardware that is capable of continuously monitoring stress-related Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The software can recognize when HRV goes below a specified threshold and will prompt a yoga breathing exercise to increase HRV to healthier levels. The technology has the potential to provide a physiological marker and remedy for psychological stress for users.
Background:
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is the measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat and is considered an index of vagal control of the heart that is a marker for physical and mental health. This variation is controlled by a primitive part of the nervous system called the autonomic nervous system (ANS) (Harvard).
HRV has been a topic with growing interest in both the e-health and fitness communities due to its straightforward measurement and potential insights it offers. Nonetheless, HRV measurements, which reflect the influence of both physical activity and psychological stress on heart function, currently lack the ability to distinguish between these two factors. As a result, current measures of HRV provide a weak marker of psychological stress.
Applications:
- Physical health and fitness
- Mental health
- Stress monitoring
Advantages:
- Uses a method that yields a purer indicator of central nervous system influences on HRV
- Measures physical activity and HRV simultaneously but can also separate out variances in HRV due to movement
- Real-time measurements and results
- Continuous monitoring for stress-related HRV
- Integrates actionable tasks to reduce stress
