Study reveals long-term rhythms in resting heart rates

A study published in EBioMedicine has revealed that resting heart rates follow long-term, independent rhythms known as infradian rhythms. By analyzing years of smartwatch data from over 600 young adults, researchers found that 70% of participants exhibited slow rhythms with distinct weekly, monthly, or even ten-week cycles.

Unlike the well-known 24-hour circadian rhythm that governs sleep and wakefulness, these slower cycles operate independently of external environmental factors. Understanding these biological rhythms could allow for better forecasting of high-risk periods for health issues such as heart attacks, epileptic seizures, and psychiatric episodes, potentially leading to more targeted medical therapies.