08/19/2025

Manage Stress with this Often-ignored Smartwatch Health Metric

A higher heart rate variability suggests your body is calm but alert

Did you know there’s a number that might let you know how stressed you are, whether you have a cold coming on and how to get into the zone if you’re about to present at a big meeting?

You can find that number on most smartwatches or other wearables right now, but if you glance at yours, it’s likely to change before your eyes.

That number is your heart rate variability, or HRV, a measure of your autonomic nervous system’s resilience. It’s one of the most potentially beneficial health metrics available. But it's also widely misunderstood. Many of us haven’t a clue what our HRV reading means or how to use it.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.