Temptation and a Healthy Heart

It has recently been reported that University of Kentucky psychologists Suzanne Segerstrom and Lise Solberg Nes have discovered a relationship between exercising self regulation and heart rate variability (HRV).

HRV appears to be linked to self regulation as HRV was considerably higher when people were working to resist temptation (eating carrots rather than cookies and chocolate) than when they were not, suggesting that HRV was mirroring the self regulation taking place. Moreover, the people who had higher levels of HRV by nature, regardless of giving into temptation, were likely to endure longer at a difficult task, such as solving an anagram.

An Idea - Did You Know that HRV is strongly correlated to cardiac related death. How so? The less HRV one exhibits, the greater the chances of death by heart failure. So, if exercising self regulation builds HRV, then perhaps one can help oneself live longer by doing just that! Resist temptation.

If you decide to find references on HRV please comment with links. Of course if anyone out there is thinking critically, your ideas and suggestions are appreciated.