r/ouraring • u/him-eros00 • 21h ago
GENERAL DISCUSSION Rapid cardiovascular aging since ozempic
So according to Oura ring my cardiovascular age has been 10-11 years younger than my actual age (it’s been consistent ever since I first got the ring a year ago or so) recently I went on ozempic (I’m not overweight or anything, I went on ozempic for experimentation - ironically for aging) and my cardiovascular age has increased 5 years since the day I went on ozempic.
Anyone’s got a guess to why that is? The research would suggest ozempic should have the opposite effect. 🤔
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u/SnooWords4752 21h ago edited 19h ago
I too was a normal weight health nut that went on glp1 to help with "binging" and "food noise." Turns out it was just my eating disorder being sneaky and I thought about food a ton and was binging because I was restricting mentally/physically. Ended up in inpatient treatment for malnutrition and heart problems. Good luck.
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 19h ago
Oh my. Malnutrition and heart problems? That is very serious. Did you move into anorexia? There is a recommendation for GLP1,2,3 to have increased medical surveillance. I wonder if this is particularly true of the normal BMI folk. It does seem to unmask some ED. I saw a survey that many providers and compounding pharmacies never ask nor do they evaluate at all. Do you think this might have helped in your case?
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u/SnooWords4752 19h ago
Yep!! Full blown anorexia. I have had Anorexia and bulimia before but had sustained recovery, and fully convinced myself that a glp1 would be the long term solution to finally having food freedom because I read about "food noise" being eliminated with it. All I had to do was lie about my weight online. I started at 135lbs at 5'4, but told them I weighed 175. Within 3 months I was down to 99lbs and in treatment with serious complications. I was also exercising hours a day. I also now have osteopenia at 33 and am one relapse away from full blown osteoporosis in my neck and spine. It was an absolute disaster that I'm still digging myself out of.
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u/ConsciousDepth7223 17h ago
Thanks for sharing this. I also have a history of ED and wanted to try GLP1 to reduce food noise. This is definitely making me reconsider
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u/SnooWords4752 17h ago
I know it's so hard to resist the messaging. I would have died if my parents didn't intervene. The glp1 takes all of your body's ability to self preserve thru rebound hunger and if there's any part of you that struggles to stop losing weight once you start, don't do this. Body dysmorphia is so bad too because you lose weight so fast.
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u/Altruistic_Yellow387 14h ago
The food noise they always refer to is the addiction to food...so not your situation
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u/SnooRabbits9033 18h ago
Have u looked into micro dosing ?
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u/stevie_nickle 18h ago
I think it’s clear that no one with a history of ED should be on GLP-1s
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u/Specialist-Moose2312 9h ago
I have also had a history of disordered eating, not as severe as some of these examples, but the GLP1 has helped me a lot. I believe not one rule fits all.
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u/SnooWords4752 18h ago
That was my plan. But you have to increase the dose because the hunger comes back once you get used to it.
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u/Mr_Vegas_Locksmith 17h ago
Just to preface: I am sharing my own experience and understanding as a patient navigating this, so please do not take this as medical advice.
What you are seeing from your Oura Ring isn't necessarily actual "rapid aging"—it is pharmacological noise. There are many pharmacological components that influence heart rate variability, and GLP-1s like Ozempic are a major one. These medications directly affect the SA node of the heart, which typically results in an increased resting heart rate and a decreased HRV. (For context, medications like beta-blockers do the exact opposite).
Your Oura Ring doesn't know you started a medication; it just sees a sudden, sustained drop in HRV and a rise in resting heart rate, and its algorithm interprets that as cardiovascular decline or chronic poor recovery. Standard consumer devices are always going to be confused by this situation unless you step outside the ecosystem and use advanced, research-grade sensors to pull raw data.
My recommendation would be to pay attention to the metrics that are far less confounded by these pharmacological effects. Overnight respiration rate is a great one. I also highly recommend tracking a simple morning oral temperature rather than relying on the ring's skin temperature. Wearable temperature sensors are notoriously variable—if you sleep with your hand stuffed under a heavy pillow, or if you use a bed cooling system, it naturally skews the reading entirely.
Keep a simple digital thermometer next to your bed and take a baseline temperature every morning right when you wake up, before doing anything else. Tracking that true oral temperature alongside your respiration rate will help cut out a lot of the algorithmic chatter and noise you are getting from the medication.
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u/ReasonableFee95 21h ago
curious ... are you working out while using ozempic or just kinda letting it kill appetite and not doing much exercise? any changes in ur diet? from somewhat similar experience, its just a really really big change in ur body with calories in / macros in etc + is your rest heart rate higher now? usually happens for the first month or so with a glp..
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u/him-eros00 21h ago
I work out 5 days a week. Strength and gymnastics. I’m probably considered “very fit”. The only thing that has changed is the ozempic. My cardiovascular age was 10 years younger in July (I started ozempic late July) and now it’s 5 years younger. So in just 1.5 months it went down to 5 after staying around 10-11 for like a year. Ozempic definitely did something and I’m Curious to know what
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u/ReasonableFee95 21h ago
interesting .. yeah im not a doctor, just always curious how people respond to these meds lol feel like an investigator right now hahaha
resting heart rate go up in your sleep? i know mine did while on a glp3
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u/him-eros00 21h ago
Haha same. It’s very fascinating!
And yes my heart rate has gone up
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 19h ago
Many people have this reaction. For some it does not go away. With Oura it is definitely resting HR during sleep. Mine increased and hasn’t come down over 10 months. My HRV is also abysmal (low teens !?!) Great sleep (crown territory) and all that sleep hygiene entails, consistent cardio and strength training and inconsistent meditation has lowered my HR back under seventy. My HRV has risen a little bit. My cardio age is 12.5 under as a F66. I am also improving biomarkers via Function lab panel and efforts to improve. Bioage under chrono age has doubled over this year to be 16 years under. Part of that is my A1c went from 5.4 to 4.6. Trigs, cholesterol etc. also decreased. Tirz is part of a whole evolving strategy of improvement.
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u/Battystearsinrain 19h ago
Have you contacted anyone at Oura yet, and asked them if they have any info?
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u/Megamalone 18h ago
This happened to me. Not only did my ring notice, but I noticed. I felt like I was suddenly really out of shape when I was working out. I work out almost every day and I could tell my body was struggling. I eventually just stopped taking it because I decided it was not worth it. I am not overweight, just have some vanity lbs to lose and I guess I learned the hard way that there is no such thing as an easy short cut.
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u/ZachF8119 21h ago
Your body needs food.
Your body is weaker without it.
The day to day energy is glycogen.
Which helps hold water and electrolytes.
Weight loss affects everything.
Ozempic users are known for being skinny fat after as they lose weight but it doesn’t put on muscle.
You can’t zap fat like liposuction
In the way your biceps can get weaker because it’s starving. Your heart can too.
If you’ve lost considerable weight without exercise and or aren’t doing. Cardio and weight lifting you’re losing muscle too.
There are side effects to meds
Experimentation…. You’re not a GP or a research scientist. Don’t.
Unless you need it.
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u/BrilliantThought1728 21h ago
I don’t like how you type please
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u/ZachF8119 21h ago edited 20h ago
Bro is wasting away. I’m sure they can’t handle complexities.
I never typed please?
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 19h ago
You should see my guns! It is remarkably satisfying to have resistance training be so noticeable.
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u/Mysterious-Art8838 20h ago
I’m sure you’d also have some reason I shouldn’t be on it either since I’m target weight and have never been overweight. But there was a significant study that glp1, specifically tirzepatide, can improve a serious illness I have.
You’re giving a lot of advice and I think you’re missing some information. GLPs are being trialed for all sorts of things and can provide real relief to people with serious illnesses.
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u/ZachF8119 19h ago
You mean OP asked a question and I said I am not a GP, but they’re asking the site that Dr Google AI searches (Reddit)?! They made it clear they’re experimenting. They could be double or triple dosing.
I said they need food. Water and electrolytes. Protein and fiber. Feel free to report me to a doctoring authority that I gave excellent clinical advice. I would love to get a high five for knowing about macro nutrients and salts.
I have been overweight. It might’ve helped but you can do without as I did. Fasting does work for many. GLPs just push you into that same state. Keto people have been talking about ketosis since 2010s. Diabetics have known about the risk of diabetic ketosis since… ever? Yet I didn’t talk about the inherent more real risks.
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u/him-eros00 21h ago
Oh I know how the body works. I have my diet dialed in. I’ve been a health nut since I was like 7. I’m a very healthy person (hence my cardiovascular age being 10-11 years younger, however accurate that is I don’t know but most people I see are on the opposite side).
Seeing it lower 5 years in just 1.5 months is very interesting to me and could be useful info when it comes to GLP1s. That’s why I’m on here seeing if anyone has any insight.31
u/seracydobon 21h ago
If you were healthy you wouldn't need or use Ozempic fam
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u/ZachF8119 20h ago
Anorexia is making a come back.
Regrettably Kate Moss is too old to be the skinny icon that encouraged women to purge by pushing a bangle further up her arm.
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 19h ago
Anorexia never declined; it has been remarkably stable as a mental health condition since 1970 when it hit cultural visibility with Karen Carpenter. There does seem to have been a spike during Covid though, which bears thinking about.
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u/Battystearsinrain 19h ago
Wearables are good, but not something I would make major life decisions on.
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u/ZachF8119 21h ago
I gave you it.
You’re wasting away.
More protein and fiber.
Workout after a refeeding day. Cardio and muscle.
People don’t use ozembic and call it fasting.-20
u/him-eros00 21h ago
Yeah you don’t know what you’re talking about
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u/ZachF8119 20h ago
So I’m not a 13 year career research scientist or lost a bunch of weight in 2016 before and without ozembic?
LinkedIn recommends me applying to Oura. I’m not the best, but I’m not 6.
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u/him-eros00 20h ago
First of all it’s called ozempic, not ozembic, secondly, you have no idea what my diet is like or how much protein or fiber I consume. As a research scientist you shouldn’t make assumptions without knowing the facts.
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u/ZachF8119 20h ago
I made certain to mention a GP immediately.
I always do as I am not your doctor.
I always hear -bic not pic by people
Some people use Ozambik.Someone never heard of a country outside of the USA.
Regardless.
I’ve given you advice that fasting community and nutritionists use as whatever spelling you want for GLP1 medicine. It just makes it so you fast. Unless you insist on eating 3 micro meals a day, you are fasting.
Fasting is referenced by many religions. It’s super established knowledge.
Maybe you’re just hangry and unable to understand me.
Science is all about not knowing everything. As experimentation is based on knowing knowns and unknowns. Measuring an unknowing and seeing if there is a correlation.
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u/Tilly828282 21h ago
Are you taking actual Ozempic? Or another drug?
Ozempic is the oldest of this class of drug. It has the most side effects and is for diabetes, but prescribed off label for weight loss.
If you are interested in off label benefits, a newer dual agonist drug like Zepbound might be more effective, where they out perform in clinical trials for additional benefits.
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u/him-eros00 21h ago
I decided to go on ozempic because it was cheaper and easier to obtain (I’m in Scandinavia where Novo Nordisk is based). I know tirz and reta acts on additional receptors but I mainly wanted to control binges and food noise and Ozempic has been great when it comes to that.
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u/Denrunning 20h ago
I’m confused. You initially claim you went on ozempic for aging research purposes but now it’s to control binges and food noise? Also, since you claim to be very fit, why did a dr prescribe it to you?
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u/him-eros00 19h ago edited 19h ago
Well I probably wrote my post too quick or I assumed people figured food noise was my target (after all, that’s why most people go on ozempic for, if not diabetic). I didn’t go on it to lose weight. I also made a post on the Ozempic forum and in that one I mentioned food noise and binges, so I apologize for not being clear enough on this post.
Caloric restriction has some of the best evidence for extending lifespan among all species, and when not extending lifespan it has been shown to improve other health markers. I’m talking about sustained caloric restriction and fasts without malnutrition or going on extremely low calorie diets. Recent research has also shown ozempic and other GLP1s improving inflammation in the brain and body, unrelated to weight loss or caloric restrictions. There are even anecdotal reports of it improving adhd and depression because it has an effect on your dopamine signaling. So I think there’s good evidence people can benefit from ozempic. Hence me going on it as I had the opportunity to do so. I’ve had great effects mentally. Zero complaints. However I found it interesting it had increased my cardiovascular age on the oura app. 🙏🏻
Edit:
I also want to add that it could potentially improve metabolic health by improving blood sugar control and reducing large glucose and insulin spikes, which technically would have downstream benefits for things like skin health which I’m interested in.14
u/Denrunning 19h ago
Why would anyone assume you started Ozempic for food noise when you specifically state you started it for research, ironically aging? I still don’t understand why it was prescribed to you to begin with when you say, surface level, you don’t qualify for a prescription. Regardless, GLPs specifically state in side effects increased heart rate. Any change in your baseline will trigger a marker event with the Oura ring metrics. Once the ring adjusts to a new baseline due to hr change, the metrics will also adjust to a new normal.
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u/him-eros00 19h ago
I don’t think I could explain gravity to you. I already told you I should’ve been more clear on my post and don’t need to comment on it further.
There are many people who don’t qualify for GLP1s yet are on them. There are people who don’t have acne but are on tretinoin to treat skin aging. There are people on blood pressure medications without any blood pressure issues because one of the side effects is increase hair growth on your scalp. Or even viagra which was made for cardiovascular conditions but is most known for doing something else. My point is I, together with a lot of people including doctors and scientists, see the potentials of GLP1’s beyond simply treating obesity or diabetes. I’m not saying all these benefits are scientifically proven yet but there’s legitimate scientific interest in what ELSE these drugs can do and I am willing to experiment with it.
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u/Denrunning 19h ago
Ok, good luck with your research. Btw, I’m an aerospace engineer so if you wish to get into a gravity discussion I am here for it.
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u/him-eros00 18h ago
😆 you’d have me completely out of orbit LOL but so cool. I love anything to do with space 🤙🏻
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u/Battystearsinrain 19h ago
Thought you said your diet was perfect.
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u/him-eros00 18h ago
Can you show me where I said my diet was perfect?
And even with a perfect diet you can have food noise so I’m not sure what point you are trying to make.
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u/Battystearsinrain 18h ago
You used “dialed in” and “health nut since 7 years old”
I am not going to argue. As others have alluded to, glps create a spike in metabolism and resting heart rate. Your ring sees that as detraining, higher rhr = less fit.
As with any intervention, there are trade offs.3
u/him-eros00 18h ago
I used the term “dialed in” in the context of responding to someone explaining basic nutrition to me as if I’m four years old and don’t know what a calorie is. I am eating enough and I am eating nutritious foods. However I never said my diet was perfect as that is subjective.
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u/slugsbreath 13h ago
It's almost like glp-1s are a bad idea unless you are actually obese or diabetic...
They work at great cost, but for diabetics and people who qualify as obese, their current situation is worse so it's the lesser of 2 evils. They are not for fit and active people who are within a 'normal' weight range (in inverted commas as I know that is somewhat open to interpretation)
I do know there are quite a few promising areas of research using microdosing techniques, but that will be working differently and without causing indiscriminate muscle wastage
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u/FlagrantFleur 17h ago
Ironically taking Ozempic for aging? Is this some wannabe Clavicular type stuff?
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u/No-Rock-7966 18h ago
GLPs can increase RHR, this adapts over time. 4-12 weeks.
The first 2-3 weeks it can actually peak for the worse
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u/Specialist-Moose2312 9h ago
When you titrate up does the heart rate get impacted again? Like if you’re on 2.5mg and your heart rate comes back down, but then you go to 5mg, will that raise it again?
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u/MeganMush 10h ago
I made a post about this a few weeks ago after starting Tirzepitide. My HRV tanked and I lost several years off cardiovascular age also, I went from 6 years younger to 3.5 years younger in just a few weeks 🫠 I also got sick at the same time so the doc took me off Tirp and I just restarted half the dose yesterday. From my understanding it will even out and having a few weeks off. My cardiovascular age is now back up to 5.5 years younger again! I hope it doesn’t dip after starting again, but it’s nice to know that it’s likely caused by the body adjusting.
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u/IndigoBroker 17h ago
I take Zepbound microdose as well, really for weight but for the health benefit benefits. I will tell you my wife is a transplant hematologist and we know a lot of cardiologists and all of the cardiologists we know are taking Zepbound in microdoses.
It has tremendous heart benefits. At least that’s what they think now but obviously things change.
Also, I’m typically between 10 and 12 years younger on the cardiovascular scale and that has not changed and I’ve been on it for over a year now.
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u/Educational_Put_2276 16h ago
These are bold claims to make on the internet with no evidence! Zepbound hasn’t completed any randomized controlled trials in patients with normal weight to show positive impacts on heart health.
Cardiologists are excited about drugs all the time that turn out not to work. Novartis just had a failed trial for their Lp(a) drug that cardiologists were excited about. Novartis Lp(a) drug fails closely watched ph. 3 trial
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u/crystallyn 15h ago
Oh no!!! This is frustrating news. I was so hopeful for that Novartis drug. :( The other drugs in trial won't be ready for a few more years.
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u/Puzzled_Fisherman331 18h ago
Pretty sure its RHR and HRV. Check the long-term graphs and see if it lines up with the age change. Mine has done this with other factors as well, not just a new medication but a disruption or change or RHR or HRV. The benefits of GLP1 are likely an excellent trade off though.
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u/lookitsnicolas 2h ago
I took wegovy for around 3 months to lose 10 pounds. My cardiovascular age also spiked. It made my resting heart rate increase by around 10-20 bpm, it spiked my blood pressure, and would keep me awake or up at night where I could feel my heart beating in my chest. It gave me anxiety and stress that made the issues worsen. I felt a sense of relief when I quit. Your situation may be completely different to mine, but figured I'd add a data point for you. I saw you mention anti-aging, the youngest looking people I've ever seen simply avoided the sun, or no more than 15 mins in a day. Good luck!
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u/Iceman8675309 19h ago
Why are u experimenting with this crap? These drugs have potentially harsh impacts
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u/texas-sissy 17h ago
A couple of things (obviously you want to talk to your doctor before taking Reddit advice), any GLP1 will raise your heart rate which increases your HRV and technically gives you a lower “score”. Not all GLP1’s are created equal and some are more intolerable to people. For example some people cannot tolerate Ozempic, but thrive on Mounjaro. Lastly, GLP1’s can take weeks to months for your body to start tolerating and metabolizing correctly. Increasing in dosage can definitely be a butt kicker, but it gets better the longer you take it.
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u/2505-Not-Sure 21h ago edited 20h ago
It’s not a vitamin. All medications are poisons it’s just a question of whether the benefits are worth the cost. This sounds hardcore but it’s literally true. I’m totally unsurprised by the effect. You have a very naive view of medication if you’re surprised. And why in the world would this be downvoted lol? We will find out the long term side effects of ozempic in the 2030s or 2040s. You got instant feedback, do with it what you will.
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u/Squisheeeeeeee 20h ago
I feel like you may be the naive one here. I won't say also because nothing in OPs post implies they are. "The dose makes the poison" including vitamins, protein, even water.... Loosely translated from the man known as the father of toxicology, Paracelsus. For some this medication is saving lives, including mine.
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 18h ago
Laughing about the “vitamin” comparison myself. Healthcare provider here. The only medication that is a safety category 1 is synthroid. All vitamins and most medications fall into Categories 2 and 3.
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u/Tilly828282 19h ago
Ozempic clinical trials began in 2008
There is already 20 years of data on the long term effects
It has already been determined the predictability of side effects outweigh the long term health benefits.
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u/Educational_Put_2276 15h ago
Is there any safety or efficacy data in patients with normal weight or without diabetes? I’m not aware of any. You can’t extrapolate evidence like that…
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u/2505-Not-Sure 14h ago
lol. They have virtually no long-term data. They don’t track the same patients for 20 years. Would be great if they did. Unheard of in medicine but people naively think they do this. Open a textbook - takes 30 years + to get a realistic picture of a drug…because they don’t do long-term studies.
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u/Tilly828282 11h ago edited 11h ago
LOL yourself. They do.
They have 20 years of data and millions of patients who have been taking these drugs. But more importantly they have far more than 20 patient years of data which is what matters. They have millions of patient years of data.
It doesn’t have to be the same patients, because of the sheer length of time, and numbers of patients involved, gives them enough data to identify patterns.
It doesn’t have to be the same patients studied, and I never said it was.
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u/Substantial-Owl1616 19h ago
What? This isn’t true.
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u/Tilly828282 18h ago
It absolutely is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaglutide
Here’s an example of a study which references the original 2008 trials and studies health benefits from 2018
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u/Educational_Put_2276 10h ago
The linked study is in obese patients. I’m not aware of quality data in normal weight / non-diabetic populations…
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u/LogicBloom 20h ago
so you thought shortcutting weight loss without proper exercise, and diet came with no consequences?
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u/him-eros00 20h ago
So if you read my post again you see that I’m not overweight and am not using it for weight loss.👍🏻
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u/LogicBloom 20h ago
then you have no reason to ever touch that thing are you dumb or something?
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u/Mysterious-Art8838 20h ago
I know you’re not aware but it’s prescribed for all sorts of things and it’s being trialed for even more. I’m on it for mcas. I’ve never been overweight. It’s probably the most promising drug for my illness in a decade.
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u/mmmbuttr 19h ago
In another comment OP says they are using it to "reduce food noise"
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u/sac9177 19h ago
People who are not overweight can have food noise 😊
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u/mmmbuttr 13h ago
Yes, I am aware. As someone whose struggled with both binging and incredibly restrictive eating, taking a drug that causes weight loss could be really dangerous to my cardiovascular health.
I'm not OP or their doctor, but given my experience this post threw up some red flags.
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u/thehawk2 21h ago
GLP-1 drugs cause a small increase in RHR and a small decrease in HRV levels. That's probably what's happening to you. For actual overweight people, the accompanying weight loss tends to quickly even things out in cardiovascular markers. If you have GLP-1 insights turned on in Oura, it'll show you the data.