What effect does regular exercise have on the resting heart rate?

Regular exercise has a well-documented effect of lowering the resting heart rate. This is primarily due to the adaptations that occur in the cardiovascular system as a result of consistent physical activity. When a person engages in regular aerobic exercise, the heart becomes more efficient at pumping blood. Over time, the heart muscle strengthens, leading to an increased stroke volume—the amount of blood ejected with each beat.

As a result, because the body requires less effort to circulate blood at rest, the heart can function effectively with fewer beats per minute. This leads to a lower resting heart rate in well-trained individuals compared to sedentary individuals. A lower resting heart rate is often seen as a marker of good cardiovascular health and fitness, demonstrating the heart’s increased efficiency and strength.