Athletes heart rate

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Hello amazing nurses,

I never asked anyone about this, but I always wanted to know. My question is, why do athletes have a lower heart rate than non athletes or average people? If possible, I would like to know how their heart functions besides working harder, faster. Thank you all. Big hugs.

I believe Lance Armstrong has a HR in the mid 30's. Can't remember where I heard that.

In athletes, the heart do not need to pump as fast, because it's so strong it can pump enough blood to the entire body in one beat. Therefore, decreasing the HR.

I'm an atlethe, I work out 3-4 times a week, dancing for an hour straight and my base HR is high 50's. Now, if I don't workout for a week or so, it goes to about 62-65, sometimes as high as 70's.

If you get a bradycardia pt and they are asympthomatic, ask if they work out. I would still hook them up to the monitor and get an EKG to rule out any potential blocks.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Peds ICU.
How can you tell what is considered normal and abnormal heart rate for them. Is there a special HR scale for them. For instance, 60-100 is considered normal for a non athlete. What is too low for them or too high? Thank you.

Try not to get too hung on up "normal" ranges. Everything exists on a continuum, and no two patients are alike.

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Specializes in Surgery.
I believe Lance Armstrong has a HR in the mid 30's. Can't remember where I heard that.

I heard that as well. I don't know if it was the same place, but I read it in Saladin's Anatomy & Physiology textbook.

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