OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the nature of cardiovascular reactions during a single session of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback in order to increase vagal effects on heart rhythm in patients with different initial levels of blood pressure (BP). PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: 33 people with normal blood pressure (group I), 20 people with uncorrected arterial hypertension (AH) grade 1-2 (group II) and 22 people with AH grade 1-2 taking antihypertensive drugs (group III) were observed. The parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), BP and pulse aximetry in the initial stage, during a single HRV biofeedback session and after this session in order to increase the total power of the HRV spectrum (each stage 5 min). RESULTS: In patients of group II low success of HRV biofeedback session, a high sympathetic reactivity and reduced oxygen blood saturation were determined. A reactivity of vagal mechanism is more pronounced in persons of group III than in those of group II. It is reflected in a significant increase in their total power of the HRV spectrum compared to the initial values and in uptrend saturation levels during the biofeedback session. CONCLUSION: The ability to HRV biofeedback in order to increase the total power of the HRV spectrum for standard short recording (5 min) can be seen as a test to determine the safety reserves of vagal autonomic cardiovascular regulation in persons with increased blood pressure.