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Understanding Heart Rate Variability and the Autonomic Nervous System
Heart rate variability is a measure of the time between successive heartbeats, providing insights into the autonomic nervous system which consists of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Sympathetic activity increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, while parasympathetic activity decreases these. By controlling breathing, individuals can shift between sympathetic and parasympathetic dominance, thereby impacting heart rate variability. Understanding heart rate variability serves as a key indicator of how well the body is recovering and adapting to its environment.