What is physical stress?

Physical stress is used to measure whether the body is in a state of stress and whether the autonomic nervous system is in a state of tension.

When we are under excessive psychological stress, tiredness, recovery period, illness, medication/alcohol/caffeine intake, etc., the body may be in a state of greater stress.

If we stay in a state of greater physical stress for a long time, it may cause physiological effects, such as decreased immunity, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, digestive system disorders, endocrine disorders, chronic pain, etc., as well as psychological effects, such as anxiety, depression, emotional fluctuations, sleep disorders, etc.

What is the relationship between physical and psychological stress?

Physical stress and psychological stress are positively correlated in many cases. When individuals experience acute or chronic psychological stress, the degree of heart rate variability and frequency of heartbeats may be affected and can be captured and interpreted by StressWatch. Therefore, the assessment of physical stress is somewhat indicative of psychological stress.

However, physical stress and psychological stress are not necessarily positively correlated in some cases. For example, when we drink alcohol or coffee, our body is under stress due to the stimulation, causing HRV to decrease, but our psychological stress may be relatively low.

Physical stress is relatively objective, while psychological stress has more subjective factors.

What can physical stress provide as a reference?

Long-term physical stress may have negative effects on mental health, such as increased risk of anxiety and depression. At the same time, psychological stress can also affect the body, such as chronic psychological stress may lead to physiological stress responses, such as decreased immune function, increased cardiovascular health risks, etc.

Therefore, by continuously tracking and understanding physical stress through StressWatch, we can:

• Provide a reference for psychological stress: Understand the sources of physical stress and assess the impact of psychological stress on them according to individual situations, and better manage psychological stress;
• Identify physical stress in advance: By monitoring HRV and resting heart rate, we can identify the presence and degree of physical stress in advance. Low HRV and high resting heart rate may indicate that the body is under greater stress, which may have potential negative effects on health;
• Guide physical stress management: The monitoring results of HRV and resting heart rate can be used as a reference for physical stress management. By adjusting lifestyle, coping strategies, and psychological health management methods, we can improve the levels of HRV and resting heart rate, thereby helping to reduce physical stress levels;
• Prevent health risks: Long-term physical stress may have negative effects on health, such as cardiovascular disease, immune system disorders, etc. By paying attention to HRV and resting heart rate, we can prevent potential health risks in advance and take active intervention measures.

Paying attention to the physical stress shown by HRV and resting heart rate can help detect the state of high physical stress early and take timely intervention measures to avoid potential health risks. By monitoring and managing physical stress, we can better manage overall physical and mental stress, reduce anxiety, and establish good habits.

What is the basic principle of measurement?