Forget the old idea that physical activity depletes your heart’s pumping supply. A new Australian study shows that physically fit people actually use fewer heart beats each day, which may help them live longer.
Studies have shown that the average heart rate of athletes is 68 beats per minute (bpm), while the average heart rate of non-athletes is 76 bpm. Over a 24-hour period, this equates to approximately 97,920 shots for athletes and 109,440 shots for non-athletes. This is about 10% less.
“This is a remarkable result, saving approximately 11,500 heart beats per day,” said Professor La Gerche, director of the Heart Institute, which is supported by the Saint Vincent Medical Institute (SVI) and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (VCCRI).
He added, “Even though an athlete’s heart may work harder during exercise, it more than makes up for it with lower rest periods.”
Exercise Efficiency and Heart Health
Research published in JACC: Power GenerationThe resting heart rate of the most physically fit individuals was as low as 40 bpm, compared to the typical 70-80 bpm range. This means that despite having higher peaks during training, athletes still have fewer total beats per day compared to sedentary athletes.
These results challenge the long-held belief, once reiterated by U.S. President Donald Trump, that the human body is like a battery with a limited supply of energy and that exercise only depletes it.
“The better your health, the more metabolically efficient your body becomes,” explains Professor La Gerche. “Even if you train hard for an hour a day, your heart beats slower for the remaining 23 hours. The overall effect is that you use fewer beats.”
A slow resting heart rate is not only a sign of good physical condition, but is also a strong indicator of long-term health. Safely increasing physical activity can improve heart performance and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“Exercise is strongly linked to improved mental health, longer lifespan and lower rates of heart disease,” says Professor La Gerche.
Moderate exercise provides the greatest benefits
Extreme endurance events such as the Tour de France may temporarily increase daily heart rate, but Professor La Gerche points out that the health benefits of sustained, moderate exercise far outweigh any risks.
“The biggest impact on your health is going from unfit to fit. Exercising purposefully for just a few hours each week can improve your heart’s efficiency and help make every beat count. It can even add years to your life,” he says.
Introduction to Heart Lab
Professor La Gerche leads the Heart, Exercise and Research Trials (HEART) Institute, which works with SVI and VCCRI to investigate how exercise affects heart health. By studying elite athletes, the team is uncovering outcomes that extend far beyond sports performance, providing valuable insights for people living with serious heart disease.
