Long COVID Labs is excited to announce our partnership with @getlief! What is Lief? Lief is a pioneering AI wearable that lets you track your HRV, or heart rate variability, over time. Over time you can learn to become more in tune with your mind and body, by following Lief’s safe and gentle biofeedback exercises. Why HRV? Heart rate variability, or HRV, measures fluctuations in your heart rate throughout the day. Generally, researchers believe that a higher HRV score is a sign of good health. ❤️ Your autonomic nervous system is constantly processing information about your body’s internal state and the world around you. 🧠 At times of higher stress or during exercise, your fight-or-flight response is triggered, and your heart rate goes up. By contrast, when you’re truly at rest and relaxed, your heart rate will drop. 🌅 When you have a higher HRV, it’s a sign that your autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular system, together, are able to rise to the occasion and perform tasks under pressure – then the fight or flight system will turn off, allowing you to fully rest, when appropriate. 🛏️ During times of extreme stress or illness, this system may stop working as well. If there is some kind of stressor, whether internal (such as a health condition) or external (stressful life event), your heart rate may not be able to dip as low in times when you’re supposed to be resting. In fact, research has shown that Long Covid patients may have abnormal HRV scores. A Sept 2024 study, outlined in @Nature Digital Medicine, found that patients with Long Covid experienced significantly different trajectories in HRV, combined with a decrease in step count, following their SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to recovered individuals. 💔 BUT the good news is we think there’s a good chance patients’ HRV scores will go up, as their symptoms improve with treatment! ❤️‍🩹 That’s why we’re SO excited to have the data @getlief will provide! 1/