Does a low heart rate always mean an enlarged heart size?
Former Member
I was having this discussion with someone who says that a person with a low resting heart rate automatically has an enlarged heart.
I once had my heart checked. While my resting heart rate was around 35 bpm, my heart size was rather average. I recently read something that said that an athlete does NOT automatically have an enlarged heart.
I can't find that article anymore.
Does anyone know in what way a low heart rate has to do with the size of your heart and if all swimmers have larger hearts than average people?
When I was in my 30's and a runner (doing 60-70 mi weekly) my resting heart rate was in the mid 40's. I quit running about 23 years ago and started swimming 9 years ago. My resting heart rate is now in the mid 50's. I'm not a doc either, but I think a lower heart rate is mostly due to the type and length of exercise we do. In some poeple it could be due to an enlarged heart but I don't think a lower resting heart rate of a conditioned athlete would be the result of this condition.
When I was in my 30's and a runner (doing 60-70 mi weekly) my resting heart rate was in the mid 40's. I quit running about 23 years ago and started swimming 9 years ago. My resting heart rate is now in the mid 50's. I'm not a doc either, but I think a lower heart rate is mostly due to the type and length of exercise we do. In some poeple it could be due to an enlarged heart but I don't think a lower resting heart rate of a conditioned athlete would be the result of this condition.
