$Unique_ID{BRK00155}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Is a Slow Heart Rate Good for You?}
$Subject{heart rate slow training conditioning Circulatory System endurance
efficient bradycardia fitness fit circulation}
$Volume{G-3}
$Log{
Exercise Strengthens the Heart*0003202.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is a Slow Heart Rate Good for You?


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QUESTION:  Is the story that a slow heart rate is good for you really true?

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ANSWER:  If the rate of the heart is not a result of any medication, then we
can offer you a full explanation.  Resting heart rates can be as low as 30
beats per minute in a highly trained endurance athlete, and it is a good sign
because it generally reflects a strong and highly efficient heart--a heart
with a lower rate uses less energy than a heart with a faster rate if both
pump the same amount of blood per minute.
     Slow heart beat--called bradycardia--is an advantage for athletes.
During an endurance event, if you have a low resting heart rate, your heart
may not have to reach as high a rate as that of someone who is less trained,
and it will take longer to reach your maximum rate.
     A slow heart rate is also a plus for someone with a heart problem.
Because a slow heart rate means you have a longer range before you reach your
maximum, there is less chance that your heart's need for oxygen will exceed
its supply--a condition that causes chest pain and even death of heart muscle.
     Heart rate slows after only a few weeks of endurance training, and in
time, the heart becomes larger and stronger as the heart rate decreases
further.  Because of this, slow heart rate is used as a measure of aerobic
fitness.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.