Low HRV: Should You Worry? Making Sense of Baselines, Trends, and Daily Swings | Dr. Andy Galpin

👉 Practical beats perfect. Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks. https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_re... 👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/ Watch the FULL podcast here:    • The ONE Habit Holding You Back Making Prog...   Worried that your HRV looks “low” on your wearable? I ask what a low HRV actually means, why different devices produce different numbers, and when a change is worth paying attention to. This clip explores how to interpret heart rate variability without getting lost in the daily noise. We discuss why HRV is a legitimate health metric with decades of research behind it, yet the absolute score is not comparable across devices or people because different technologies use different calculations. I’m taking a closer look at establishing a personal baseline over 21–30 days, why a four-day rolling view can reduce anxiety, and why consistent shifts over seven or more days matter more than one-off dips. We cover the role of genetics (around 20 percent of HRV), how lifestyle often explains age-related changes, and sex differences including a dip in the 40–50 window likely linked to menopause that later rebounds in the dataset referenced. You’ll also hear why stability can reflect resilience, why big swings can be a red flag even when the number is “high,” and how resting heart rate and overnight respiratory rate fit into the bigger picture. I share my own readings (HRV around 10–13 on one device, resting heart rate at 45) and experiences using No Watch, Oura, and Eight Sleep, plus a mention of devices commonly used for HRV. As a nutritionist and health communicator, I focus on practical takeaways: use one device consistently, track trends, and avoid cross-device comparisons. *** This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimagined Know your body, trust yourself. 15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com *** The Great British Veg Out How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less. 👉 sarahannmacklin.com/vegout Reset Your Health If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start. 👉 sarahannmacklin.com/reset-your-health *** Let’s be friends! 📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin 📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah 🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin 📱 TikTok: / livewellbewellpodcast 💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/