Khaberni - Dr. José Abian, a cardiology specialist, confirms that a lower heart rate during rest is not necessarily a sign of danger, but may be an indicator of excellent heart health.
He explains that what is known as physiological bradycardia is a condition where the pulse rate is less than 60 beats per minute, often observed in athletes or those with high physical fitness.
Abian says: "Far from being a cause for concern, physiological bradycardia is actually a sign of a healthy and efficient heart," indicating that in this case, the heart pumps a larger amount of blood with each beat, which reduces its need to beat as frequently.
He adds that adapting to regular exercise, especially endurance training, leads to improved heart efficiency and strengthens the nervous system responsible for regulating the pulse, which explains the lower heart rate in athletes and their increased endurance.
He explains that this adaptation reduces the heart's oxygen consumption and reduces its stress over the long term, which may reflect positively on the health of the heart and blood vessels.
However, the doctor emphasizes the need to differentiate between normal slowness and pathological slowness. An abnormal condition may be accompanied by symptoms like dizziness, severe fatigue, fainting, or chest pain, and may indicate a malfunction in the heart's electrical system.
The Spanish Heart Foundation clarifies that a decrease in pulse may be normal, but it needs to be assessed if accompanied by unusual symptoms.
Abian concludes his advice by saying that "the absence of symptoms in active individuals often makes a low pulse a normal condition not warranting concern, but a medical examination remains the best option when in doubt."
