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Morning Heart Rate Variability

Meaning

Morning Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a non-invasive, quantitative measurement of the beat-to-beat variation in heart rate, specifically assessed immediately upon waking, which serves as a sensitive proxy for autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance. A higher HRV reading in the morning indicates greater parasympathetic (rest and digest) tone, reflecting effective physiological recovery and stress resilience from the previous day. Conversely, a consistently low morning HRV signals chronic stress, overtraining, or a state of sympathetic dominance, which often precedes hormonal and metabolic dysregulation. It is a vital biomarker for assessing the body’s readiness for the day’s demands and the overall allostatic load.