#12 Heart Rate Variability: Insight from Two Million Nights of Data
WHOOP Senior Research Scientist Dr. Greg Grosicki shares what he learned when analyzing ~2 million nights of heart rate variability data in the first Physiology Unraveled podcast episode.
Hi friends,
Heart rate variability (HRV) provides a glimpse of our body’s inner workings. But our understanding of HRV is far from complete. How much do health behaviors like alcohol intake, exercise, and sleep consistency affect HRV? Does HRV consistency change with age?
These questions are what Dr. Greg Grosicki and his research team wanted to find out. They leveraged a database of over 21,000 people across ~2 million nights of HRV data to investigate.
Lucky for us, Greg is a good friend who gave us a behind-the-scenes look into his new publication in the first episode of Physiology Unraveled, co-hosted with Dr. Jorge Granados. Check out the interview video embedded below or on Spotify.
Podcast Vision
Dr. Jorge Granados and I go beyond the textbook to share actionable information that empowers you to understand your body and health better. We also have a ‘career series’ coming soon to inform career decisions and development by leveraging insight from colleagues across many domains of biomedical science. If you have science or career-related topics in mind, please share them with us!
Interview with WHOOP Scientist Dr. Greg Grosicki
Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction
(00:50) Behavioral Influences on Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
(06:56) Lifespan Changes in HRV
(09:44) Body Mass Index and HRV
(13:19) Exploring Arrhythmias in Older Adults
(14:34) Seasonality and Its Impact on Cardiovascular Metrics
(18:14) Understanding the Sampling Window for HRV Analysis
(23:55) Actionable Insights for HRV
(29:22) Bridging the Gap for Older Adults and Wearables
DISCLAIMER: Jorge Granados, PhD, is an Associate Medical Science Liaison at Fresenius Medical Care. Joseph Watso, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in Exercise Physiology at Florida State University. This podcast is separate from their roles at Fresenius Medical Care and Florida State University.
Wrap Up
The Physiology Unraveled (co-host Dr. Jorge Granados) podcast is live on Spotify!
And for the new science on HRV:
Behavior: HRV consistency was lower in those with more alcohol intake, less physical activity, shorter and less consistent sleep, and more behavioral variability.
Age: HRV consistency declined with age after 40 years old in males and increased through midlife and fell after age 50 in females.
BMI: Higher body mass index was associated with lower HRV consistency.
Stay curious,
Joe
If you value science communication direct from a scientist, please support me by sharing this post and newsletter with others who may benefit from it.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is separate from my roles at Florida State University and the Cardiovascular and Applied Physiology Laboratory. Content from Watso Health LLC, including the podcast, is for educational purposes only and not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for health concerns.