Hi Asha,

Please take into account that:

1) HR is directly derived from HRV by averaging the RR intervals (60/Avg(RR))

2) Respiration is linked to HRV as part of autonomic regulation feedback

So if you have HRV you have directly the HR as well using the same sensor and data. For the respiration is different, you need a different sensor although calculating respiration from HRV is also possible but accurate at rest only.     

In my view, both respiration and HR can be added as markers to the others HRV markers. This being said, one important thing to me is which kind of analysis you're doing on HRV?

If you want to monitor real time stress, the standard methods (FFT/RMSSD...) may not apply since not intended for real time, mathematically speaking.

Some studies were unsuccessful to show a correlation between stress and traditional markers LF/HF.  

http://www.asian-nursingresearch.com/article/S1976-1317(14)00070-X/abstract  

For real time monitoring (or dynamic post processing) of HRV you may have a look at our method, one example is here:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282853251_Case_study_on_HRV_-_Real_time_monitoring_of_meditation_shows_surprising_results        

Another point is the psychological stress (cognitive/emotional) is very hard to be discriminated from the physiological stress (e.g. motions, physical activity), since ANS regulation is done on both simultaneously.

Cheers,

Vasile    

Research Case study on HRV – Real time monitoring of meditation shows...

Hi Asha,

I think, for stress, there are useful cardiac measures to be used, but HRV may not be your best friend. If you are able to isolate take the standard HRV measure, Cardiac RSA, you're primarily looking at parasympathetic effects on heart rate. Heart rate by itself, as you may know, 

Hi Asha,

IN reality:

HRV records both RR and HR fluctuations of the individual. There is no question of picking one. both are already a part of HRV.

If you can measure the Galvanic skin resistance along with pupillary diameter in response to  stress, it might give you more accurate results.

HRV can be used as a starting parameter. good topic to do research on. socially relevant and we need more evidence this field.

 pros,

easily recordable with portable instruments

repeated recordings possible

analysis like HRV, pulse RV,  arterial stiffness

respiratory rate along with depth and characteristic analysis is also possible

Cons

Not a very reliable results or comparable parameter. 

Both HR and RR are bound to be varying in all types of stress.

Hi everyone! thank you for your insight to this topic. I have decided to measure respiration rate and compare it to HRV (looking at LF/HF ratio). I will be using a SUUNTO monitor for the HRV and a transducer belt to measure respiration. We have 60 volunteers and I am quite looking forward to the results of this test. Thank you again for your answers!

If you have a good/reliable tool to take the data, and some stable environmental conditions to install it, HRV will be really esay and reliable to be measured. Unlike EEG, HRV does not use to have problems such as impedance or broken/peeled electrodes, keeping in mind that most of Biopack devices use a belt for this task.

There is attached an example of the application of HRV measuring in a simulated task with bus drivers, to illustrate it (i.e. when you compare obtained rates and trends to other objective measures such as heart rate and skin conductance).

Article Bus Operators' Responses to Job Strain: An Experimental Test...