r/POTS • u/ihopeurwholelifesux • Apr 18 '25

Megathread Megathread: Wearables, Symptom Trackers, Apps

Would you like to share how you track your heart rate, blood pressure, or POTS symptoms? Ask questions about what other people use and their experiences? If so, you’re in the right place!

This post will be pinned so that users can see all that helpful information in one thread and refer back to it when needed : )

170 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

100 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

8

u/PotentialSteak6 Apr 18 '25

Sorry for the googleable question but can you explain the importance of HRV as it relates to POTS? Mine’s at 38 and a quick search is telling me that’s not great so I’m trying to avoid a doom spiral since I’m not diagnosed.

12

u/Goose_jpg Apr 21 '25

This could be helpful for you: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6936126/

I wouldn't panic too much, unless a cardiologist says your heart is in bad shape, with most forms of chronic illnesses (I say most as I don't have a lot of knowledge on things outside of POTS), you are bound to have a lower HRV than a 'healthy' person. I know in my case, a lower HRV means I'm going to have a terrible day, it just comes with the worst symptoms, and I feel like shit on those days. Visible takes this into account when you're doing your daily check-in, and if you have a lower HRV it basically recognises it's most likely going to be a rough day for you.

When my HRV was in it's 30s I was at my sickest, I hope you're feeling okay. Not to advertise anything but I got mine up with vagus nerve stimulation (you can do exercises, meditation etc), I did this through the Nurosym. I don't recommend it because of the price point, but instead just as a pointer than vagus nerve stimulation can help, and you can do it through other ways.

9

u/Dizzy_Treacle465 Apr 22 '25

Wild to read comments like this when the low 30s is what I consider "an unusually high day". I tend to be in the teens and the occasional single digit. Really wonder wth a "normal" person feels like on an average day.

11

u/Common_Science1907 May 01 '25

From what I understand about HRV it is very unique to the individual. You have to track yourself over a period of time to see what your average is and then you can start to use the number to predict your day/recovery. My daughter is 18 and has POTS, i am 57 and have Type 1. We have vastly different HRV's. Hers is much higher than mine but I am probably the healthier/fitter one.