How to Personalise HBOT Protocols & Assess Progress Using HRV | ft. Dr. Mike Nelson

Feb 6, 2026

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In this episode of the How to Hyperbaric Podcast, Dr. Masha talks with Dr. Mike Nelson about Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and how to use it to track stress, recovery, and nervous system balance at home. You’ll learn what HRV means, how to measure HRV with wearables (Oura Ring, WHOOP, Garmin, Apple Watch), what “normal HRV” really depends on, and why higher HRV isn’t always better.

We also cover how HRV can help personalize Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), red light therapy, and PEMF protocols, how to spot overtraining or too much stress, and what trends matter more than one daily number.

Timestamps:

00:00 INTRO

01:34 What Is HRV (Heart Rate Variability)

04:45 What HRV Can Tell Us

10:24 How to Measure HRV

13:12 What's a Good HRV Number?

17:09 Why Trends Matter More Than a Single Daily Number

20:00 What Happens When HRV Is Too High?

28:06 When Athletes Should Use Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

32:04 What Other Measurements Help Assess HRV

38:29 Why Interpreting HRV Can Be Problematic

41:30 Can HRV Measurements Show Good Stress vs Bad Stress?

46:45 Why People Should Measure HRV

50:25 Dr. Mike’s Educational Program on HRV

📌 Find Dr. Mike Nelson’s contacts, resources, and courses here: https://miketnelson.com/

👩🏻‍⚕️ Book your Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy consultation with Dr. Masha: https://drmasha.com/consult-with-me/

Thanks for watching!

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