Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Testing
Pets and Their People offers Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Testing, which is a technique used to evaluate the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic means “self-governing”. The autonomic nervous system regulates the functions in the body that you do not have to think about, such as digestion, heart rate, and response to danger. The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
The sympathetic nervous system responds to threats and is called the “fight or flight” response. It elevates heart rate and causes vasoconstriction, getting the body ready to respond to a threat. The sympathetic nervous system is important for short term survival.
The parasympathetic nervous system is the “house-keeping” portion of the autonomic nervous system. It lowers heart rate, manages peristalsis in the gut, and causes vasodilation. Sleep is the ultimate in parasympathetic tone and is important for the maintenance processes in the body. The parasympathetic nervous system is important for long term survival.
For optimal health, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems should work together in balance with each other. Parasympathetic tone should predominate most of the time, with sympathetic kicking in when needed. Abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system can lead to long term health problems. For example, chronic increased sympathetic tone can lead to anxiety or high blood pressure. HRV testing can help identify abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system. HRV Testing is done by putting the body through mild, simple stresses that create predictable heart rate changes while wearing a heart rate monitor. The computer then analyzes the data to give us feedback on the sympathetic and parasympathetic tone.
For more information about heart rate variability, contact Pets and Their People today.