Aim was to test the ability of the parameter heart rate variability (HRV) to give insight into different stress-strain relations in the field of preventive medicine. Based on an overview of HRV`s physiology and potential, methodological aspects of HRV-analysis and HRV in the applied setting were explored. Results lead to the assumption that precise and valid measurements of inter-heartbeat-intervals are essential for HRV-analysis. Considering these criteria, HRV can complete the picture drawn by other physiological measures with respect to stress, strain and health risks of an individual.
