Several years ago, migraines and anxiety were affecting Kate’s performance at work, and medications didn’t help. Her neurologist suggested breathing practices aimed at raising her heart rate variability, or HRV.
Kate, age 38, a finance analyst in Manhattan who requested the use of her first name only for privacy, learned that HRV refers to the time gaps between each heartbeat. Although the heart feels like a steadily beating drum, there are tiny changes in the lengths of these intervals, and people with more variation between each heartbeat tend to have better physical and emotional health.
