This page web page’s purpose is to review the diminution of Respiratory Sinus Arrythmia (aka Heart Rate Coherence) and report anomalies in Heart Rate Variability with a view to learning about any remedies that can be taken. WikiPedia states “Reduced HRV has been shown to be a predictor of mortality after myocardial infarction[3][4] although others have shown that the information in HRV relevant to acute myocardial infarction survival is fully contained in the mean heart rate.[5] A range of other outcomes and conditions may also be associated with modified (usually lower) HRV, including congestive heart failure, diabetic neuropathy, post–cardiac-transplant depression, susceptibility to SIDS and poor survival in premature babies.”
Methodology
A breath pacer , EZ-Air Plus was used to encourage deep slow breathing . It was set to 4.7 breaths per minute, 5.6 secs inhale, 7.1 secs exhale. While it provided audible guidance , it was only successful when attention (mindfulness) was paid to it and my mind wandered a lot. When it was being attended to Heart Rate Coherence increased.
An Emave Pro manufactured by HeartMath used an ear sensor to monitor heart beats and feed them to a computer program . The program determined the heart rate and displayed it on a computer screen amongst other things.
Reduction in Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia.
On 1/8/10 my Heart Variability was 18 peak to peak variation in Heart Rate
But recently the amplitude and wave-like amount of Respiratoy Sunus Arrythmia has dropped even though the same slow deep breathing techniques have been used. See below for a current display
This reduction in coherence and amplitude is most proably due to ageing (the reports are over 10 yrs apart) and I am now 82 yrs old.
The important question is is there anything I can do to restore the sinusoidal nature of the Heart Rate Variability