Connection Between Steady Heart Rate And Chronic Stress

Recent findings published in the journal Stress show that a steady heartbeat could increase the risk of chronic stress.

"At rest, a more variable heartbeat is a good thing. It shows that your parasympathetic nervous system is hard at work. That's the system that's responsible for the 'rest-and-digest' state of being - the opposite of 'fight-or-flight.' The rest-and-digest phase puts you in a calm state that allows you to conserve and replenish your energy," said psychology professor Jean-Philippe Gouin who holds a Canada Research Chair in Chronic Stress and Health, in a news release.

Researchers at Concordia University in Quebec observed 76 students on the university's campus during low stress periods at the start of the term during high stress exam periods. They also recorded heart rate variability and tracked moods of the students when relaxed and when having thought that caused stress.

Findings revealed that while most students dealt with stress at this time, some dealt were more susceptible to the problem than others. Furthermore, a steady heartbeat at the start of the term was more likely to develop stress during exam time.

"When you're facing a real threat in your life, a regular heartbeat helps you deal with the situation. If you encounter a lion in the jungle, you want your heartbeat to stay at consistently high levels so that you can run away as fast as you can. But if your body shows the same reaction when you worry about something that may or may not happen - like failing an exam - then you might be more susceptible to stress," Gouin concluded. "By pinpointing those in the general population who are most vulnerable to stress, we can intervene before they hit the breaking point - and hopefully prevent the negative consequences of stress by doing so. That's why it's important to have an objective diagnostic tool like this one."