When people experience stress, their heart rate variability tends to drop in a specific way — this change is seen again and again in different people and situations, and it might be a key sign that the body’s stress response isn’t working right.

39

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Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

39

Community contributions welcome

39

Stress and Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis and Review of the Literature

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2018 Mar

When people are stressed, their heart rate variability goes down, especially the part controlled by the calming part of the nervous system. This study found that this drop is the most common sign of stress across many different people and situations.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

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Source Study

Stress and Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis and Review of the Literature

Score: 39

DOI: 10.30773/pi.2017.08.17

Similar Assertions

When people feel stressed, their heart doesn't relax as well between beats, and this change in heart rhythm might be a simple way to tell if their body's stress system is out of balance.

39

0

80%

When you're stressed, your heart's rhythm changes in a way that shows your body is shifting into 'fight or flight' mode and relaxing less — this change is often used by scientists to measure stress in the body.

39

0

72%