to think that a very low heart rate variability on my Iwatch is BAAAD?

[ExShield]

Mine is 24.

Really? Are you sure it’s working properly? I think you would feel quite poorly if your heart rate was that low.

Try taking your pulse manually and counting yourself

If you're otherwise healthy then I'd try not to worry about it as it might not even be accurate. But if you are worried then speak to a GP.

mine's 14 apparently. Presumably that's really bad?!

Try taking your pulse manually and counting yourself

The OP is talking about heart rate variability, not pulse rate.

www.whoop.com/thelocker/heart-rate-variability-hrv/

I hadn't ever looked at mine on my Apple Watch - coincidentally mine is 24 at the moment but the average for last month was 39 which is midrange for my age. The article I linked to mentioned hydration ... it's hot here today so maybe it's a blip.
Is yours always on the low side?

Here’s my data.

It says my average is 24

My HRV varies from high 30s to high 60s, depending on exercise, sleep etc. A low HRV shows that your body is either resting and repairing.

I think you have to be hyperfit to get near 100 odd.

Are you stressed? Run down? Not sleeping?

Mine is also around there and sometimes lower or a bit higher OP.

It worries me but I’m not sure what to do about it.

Anyone know if anything can be done to improve it?

I am 49 and overweight, and yes, under stress

Anyone know if anything can be done to improve it?

Diet, exercise and sleep.

And apparently a blast of cold water at the end of your shower. No thanks!

I've never heard of HRV before. My heart rate is low at night but I don't think my Garmin does HRV..

I don't see how it's even possible for an i watch to measure that tbh, yet alone to any clinically accurate degree. You'd need a proper ecg to tell you that. So. Don't worry.

Apparently the data for iwatch is accurate because it’s effectively just relying on the heart monitor side of it and the rest is an algorithm

Where can you see the HRV?

Found it!

Whilst a proper ecg would be looking at the actual difference between the R waves, not substituting one measurement for another then applying an algorithm. I watches are NOT clinical telemetrics and should not be assumed to be.

Yes the Apple iwatch HRV is considered very accurate - several relatives have used the data to get referrals to cardiologists. Talk to your GP asap

Get someone to actually take your pulse. Chances are it’s a poor connection. If it’s accurate (very unlikely) either you are an elite athlete or need a pacemaker.

Cherrypavlova taking my pulse has nothing to do with this. This is the interval between beats, not the beats per minute, plus an elite athelite would typically have one that is much much higher!

But is has to detect the beats in the first place!

Seriously there's a reason why hospitals use Ecg monitors and not I watches you know.

I think a lot of people here have no idea what the HRV is. Speak to your GP - if a cardiologist does find a problem they may ask you to send your data from the iwatch as it is considered good enough in conjuction with a blood pressure monitor.

Thanks GrumpyHoonMain. That’s what I think I’ll have to do. My SATS are ok and my BP is 120/90 and resting pulse (taken on oximeter) was 71.

And I have had a LOT of stress lately.

I thought the lower the better - is that not right? Can anyone point me to a link for HRV by age?

It’s not heart rate. It’s the variability - the times in between the beats. HRV not heart rate.