Experts have dispelled the popular myth that physical education negatively affects heart health and accelerates its wear. The study was published in the journal JACC: Advances.
Scientists from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (Australia) have stated that they have dispelled the main myth about the harm of regular physical exercise — that it supposedly increases the number of heartbeats and wears out the organ. Medical professionals found that the heart rate of those who exercise is, on average, 10 percent lower than that of people who have abandoned physical activity.
According to scientific data, the resting heart rate (RHR) of trained individuals is 68 beats per minute, while for others it is 76 beats per minute. This means that over the course of a day, the hearts of physically active individuals 'save' about 11,500 beats. 'Although athletes' hearts work harder during training, the lower rates at rest more than compensate for this shortcoming,' noted Professor La Gerche.
The scientist described a slower resting pulse as a sign of good physical condition and an important indicator of long-term health. 'Even if you train hard for just one hour a day, your heart beats slower for the remaining 23 hours,' concluded the author.
At the end of October, American researchers stated that certain viruses, including influenza, COVID-19, and HIV, can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases — both in the short term and in the long term.
