Heart Rate Variability
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Hi all, happy new year!
Like many people, I wear a smart watch which tracks my 'stress', which is really heart rate variability (HRV). I went from working full time last year to not working at all for a few months and my HRV didn't change much at all. However I went away for 2 weeks over Christmas to SA and my HRV dropped roughly 30%! I was expecting to see that when I quit my job, not when I go away and socialise with people for 2 weeks.
Even more interestingly is that while I was away, my tolerance for exercise increased significantly as measured by heart rate. Here in Sydney if I go for a walk, my heart rate will be around 100-120, just walking. While down in SA, I went for a one hour walk and my heart rate began at 80 and by the end of hour was 93. HUGE improvement!
Does anyone know of any specific research looking into HRV and CFS? Or perhaps had a similar experience to what I describe? I'm very curious what is going on as so far this is the biggest improvement I've had in the last year.
Thanks
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@rob it sounds very much like there might be an environmental factor in your illness. Temperature? Toxins/allergens (mold? Road pollution? Pollen? )
I know of one person who got a lot better after moving to a very hot and humid country (unusual since its more common for us to have heat intolerance)..
Jen Brea improved when she moved to the desert where mold can't grow..
And at one point my doctor thought I was intolerant to mold in my workplace and wanted to see what would happen when I went on leave. Sadly it didn't help for me.What is different in the environment in SA compared to Sydney?
I believe there are studies showing reduced HRV (= high stress) in ME/CFS, I don't have the links, but hopefully someone else can supply them. This is to be expected in any illness though, it just proves your body is struggling, so I think the more interesting thing is what causes changes in HRV for you personally.
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@river Thanks. Yes it seems there is something in the environment. I will be experimenting staying at different locations over the next month and see if I can reproduce it.
SA is much drier than Sydney. And where we were had a constant southly wind blowing which wasn't that pleasant if you ask me. No mould that I know of in my normal environemnt (I had my house tested), but that's not to say its not in the general environment.
I will keep you posted over the coming weeks as I move around and try and replicate the results somewhere a bit closer.
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@rob Were your SA walks flatter? Even small slopes make a big (bad) difference to me.
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@dot in SA I was walking on the beach so flat, but not firm ground. I have begun controlled indoor exercise again this year, so I'll be able to be more objective about it.
re HRV, I spent a few days at my parents place (also in Sydney, but 20kms away) and there was no change there at all. So my next step I think will be going somewhere a couple of hours outside of Sydney and checking there.
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@rob Walking on soft sand would tire me! But the flatness is a bonus. Good luck with your next experiment
I hope you can find flat ground to experiment with. 
