Because of its noninvasiveness and convenience, measuring heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator for health or illness has become increasingly popular. HRV can serve as an important indicator of cardiac autonomic regulation, and decreased HRV has been demonstrated in a variety of clinical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and cancer-related fatigue. Many nonpharmacologic interventions have been clinically shown to improve HRV. This includes exercise, forest bathing or greenspace exposure, auricular vagus stimulation, biofeedback or paced slow breathing, and acupuncture.
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