10/09/2025
I am not sure where that myth came from, but it's been widely known for a very long time that those engaging in fitness training especially aerobic cardiovascular activities (biking, rowing, swimming, running etc.) increase the size of their hearts and the stroke volume with each heart beat leading to lower heart rates during rest and activity. Does that guarantee longevity? Not sure, as we have seen long distance runners die young while Winston Churchill who never exercised a day in his life live to a ripe age. What we do know is that the heart tolerates larger stroke volumes better than higher heart frequencies. That might protect the heart and improve your chances for a longer life.
A groundbreaking Australian study reveals that fitter individuals actually use fewer heartbeats each day than their sedentary counterparts, dispelling the myth that exercise "uses up" heartbeats. Forget the old myth that physical activity drains your supply of heartbeats. New research from Austra