Biofeedback can also be an effective complementary therapy for treating heart disease, and is free of risks and side effects. Cardiovascular disease is a worldwide epidemic, and today’s modern world, fast-paced lifestyles, unbalanced diets, sedentary lifestyles and stress increase the risk of heart disease. Let’s take a closer look at what HRV biofeedback is and how can biofeedback help prevent and treat heart disease?
What is biofeedback?
Based on the theory of quantum healing, quantum biofeedback therapy devices such as the QUEX S help the human body to correct and heal defects in the body with the help of the mind.
The biofeedback device measures the physiological reactions of the human body, analyses where the body is out of balance and helps the patient to consciously use his/her own self-healing ability to heal.
Biofeedback is not only effective for specific illnesses, as it provides a tool that is effective in dealing with everyday stress and, in general, a significant improvement in quality of life can be achieved through biofeedback therapies.
Biofeedback and heart disease
Stress is a huge risk factor for heart disease. When we are put in a stressful situation, changes in the body occur immediately and involuntarily, and we only notice them if we consciously observe them. In a stressful situation, muscles tense almost immediately, the skin may sweat, the pulse quickens, the blood pressure rises and breathing becomes faster.
Everyone should know how to manage stress effectively, because one of the basic requirements for a calm, balanced and healthy life is to be able to manage stress properly and to teach our bodies to do the same.
The biofeedback techniques used in biofeedback therapy help us to consciously regulate the body’s response to stress at its very first manifestation, the physiological level.
In addition to the fact that biofeedback therapy for stress can be effective and long-lasting, specific biofeedback therapy can also be used, which is heart rate variability, or HRV biofeedback therapy.
HRV biofeedback is another possible type of biofeedback training that improves the body’s ability to consciously self-regulate. The biofeedback device and the expert biofeedback therapist monitor the patient’s breathing, circulatory system, specific parameters and train them according to the biofeedback protocol, increasing heart rate variability, HRV.
Research has shown that low HRV can be a predictor of premature death and many diseases.
Variability is the ability of the heart to respond to the circulatory demands of the body. The higher the HRV, the more flexible the heart’s ability to adapt to current conditions.
Biofeedback in the treatment of heart disease
Biofeedback is an option to consider in the treatment and prevention of heart disease because a healthy heart responds and adapts to environmental influences at every moment.
Heart function is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, an involuntary, unconscious process. It is these unconscious, involuntary processes that biofeedback helps to balance and teach the body to function correctly.
In addition, the heart’s function is influenced by factors such as respiratory circulation, temperature, emotions and hormones. Biofeedback therapies are also used to balance these.
Increasing heart rate variability is used:
- in case of cardiac arrhythmias
- stress management
- stress disorders
- blood pressure problems
- cardiovascular diseases
Biofeedback therapy
The biofeedback device used in biofeedback therapy consists of a computer unit, electro-physiological sensors and special software.
Every cell and organ in the human body resonates at a specific frequency, which looks different when the body is out of balance or even under stress. In biofeedback therapy, sensors attached to the patient monitor brain waves, breathing, pulse and other signals, which are analysed by a special computer system and, by focusing on our mind and subconscious, we can teach the body to consciously regulate involuntary physiological processes.
For HRV training, sensors are placed on the patient’s fingers and on the chest to monitor breathing.
During biofeedback training, the individual learns what their ideal breathing pattern looks like with the help of the software, which supports the individual’s optimal heart rate variability.
Of course, this requires several sessions of therapy according to a treatment plan set up by the biofeedback therapist, followed by repetition and practice at home, but it is expected to have a lasting effect.
The effectiveness of HRV biofeedback
The HRV biofeedback method or HRV training (cardiac coherence training) can increase the variability of the heart rhythm, thus achieving total cardiac coherence, perfect heart-mind-body harmony.
The greater the variability, the greater the flexibility and adaptability of the heart. This reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, anxiety, tension and helps us to cope more effectively with stress.
Increasing HRV can have benefits during and after biofeedback therapy:
- normalisation of heart rate
- blood pressure and thermoregulation are balanced
- the heart and brain can work together more efficiently and in a more balanced way
- the immune system may be strengthened
- increase positive feelings and emotions
The stress management skills acquired during HRV training can be very beneficial in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and can be a long-term, effective, risk-free therapy without side effects.