HRV Analysis — 12+ Heart Rate Variability Metrics
The most comprehensive HRV analysis app for Apple Watch. HeartLab measures SDNN, rMSSD, pNN50, Poincaré SD1/SD2, and more.
What Is Heart Rate Variability (HRV)?
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measures the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats. Far from being a sign of irregularity, healthy HRV indicates a responsive autonomic nervous system. Higher HRV generally correlates with better cardiovascular fitness, lower stress, and improved recovery capacity. HRV is used by athletes to optimize training, by clinicians to assess cardiac risk, and increasingly by wellness-conscious individuals to monitor stress and overall health.
HeartLab's 12+ HRV Metrics Explained
HeartLab analyzes over 12 HRV metrics from your Apple Watch data: SDNN (overall variability), rMSSD (parasympathetic activity), pNN50 (percentage of successive intervals differing by more than 50ms), SD1 and SD2 (Poincaré plot dimensions), SD1/SD2 ratio (autonomic balance), mean R-R interval, heart rate range, and more. This comprehensive analysis rivals what clinical Holter monitors provide. Most competing apps offer only 1-3 HRV metrics — HeartLab gives you the complete picture.
Why Comprehensive HRV Matters
Different HRV metrics reveal different aspects of cardiac health. SDNN reflects overall autonomic function, rMSSD indicates parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) activity, and pNN50 provides another view of vagal tone. By tracking all these metrics together, HeartLab helps you understand your body's stress response, recovery quality, fitness progression, and overall cardiac health more accurately than any single metric could.
FAQ
What is a good HRV score?
HRV varies greatly by age, fitness, and individual baseline. Generally, higher is better. HeartLab tracks your personal trend rather than comparing to generic benchmarks, which is more clinically meaningful.
How does HeartLab's HRV compare to Welltory?
HeartLab offers 12+ HRV metrics including Poincaré analysis, plus ECG analysis and arrhythmia detection. Welltory focuses on HRV and stress tracking but lacks ECG analysis capabilities.
Does HRV decrease with age?
Yes, HRV naturally decreases with age. HeartLab accounts for this in its analysis and tracks your personal baseline, so your scores are meaningful regardless of age.
Can I use HRV for training optimization?
Yes. Athletes use rMSSD and HRV trends to determine recovery status and optimal training intensity. HeartLab provides the detailed metrics needed for training-informed decisions.
Get Advanced ECG Analysis on Your Wrist
HeartLab delivers clinical-grade ECG analysis directly from your Apple Watch — arrhythmia detection, HRV analysis, and professional reports.
