The new study, presented today in Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), has revealed a strong relationship between heart rate and future health conditions, even in people without obvious sleep problems.
The study, conducted in the Department of Neurology, at Inselspital, at the University Hospital of Bern, analyzed 4,170 people in a period of 13,217 people, found that the variability of heart rate (HRV) during sleep could serve as a strong sign of sleep of depression and cognitive malfunction.
HRV reflects the variation of time intervals between heartbeats. HRV is constantly adapted to a response to the body’s physical and emotional requirements. During the day, the HRV is normally high that corresponds to high levels of activity. At night, and especially during deep sleep, HRV usually decreases, reflecting the displacement in rest and repair, where the body focuses on recovery and recharge for the next day.
Research found that some HRV standards were associated with future health conditions. Participants who later developed a stroke often showed an unusually high and irregular HRV. On the contrary, the low HRV was common to those who developed further depression. High HRV with altered frequency standards were also observed in people who later developed metabolic diseases. Similarly, cardiovascular and endocrine diseases were also associated with high HRV.
HRV is important to the brain and overall health because it reflects how well the body is regulated – mainly through the activity of the autonomic nervous system. This system controls vital unconscious processes such as breathing, digestion and muscle tone, helping the body maintain balance and adapt to internal and external requirements. “
Irina Filchenko, MD, PhD, Head of Study Author
“While many people are familiar with watching stages of sleep or total sleep time, the HRV nightclub provides a unique window in the way the body operate during sleep.
It is important that researchers believe that HRV could act as an early normal indicator, proving subtle changes in body function before traditional symptoms or diagnoses occur. This could open the door to prevention and timely intervention for diseases such as Alzheimer’s or stroke, where early action can improve the effects of patients.
Dr. Filchenko noted: “Some participants had a” normal “sleep according to traditional criteria, with minimal sleep fragmentation and the expected balance of sleep stages, however, HRV told a different story, receiving the dangers lost in common measurements.
The findings of the study also increase the ability to use the technology worn to monitor HRV patterns over time. While current consumer devices vary from accuracy and interpretation, experts believe that future improvements could allow people to monitor changes in HRV as part of regular health monitoring.
Research adds to increasing evidence that sleep is a critical pillar of long -term health and that fine standards could offer a window of opportunity to prevent serious illnesses. “The broader message is that sleep is not just a passive rest of rest – it is an active, dynamic process that plays a vital role in maintaining long -term health, especially in brain health.
