Forget the old myth that working out uses up your heartbeats. New Australian research reveals the opposite, with fitter people clocking up fewer total beats each day, which could help them live longer.

Led by sports cardiologist Professor Andre La Gerche, the research tracked the daily heart activity of 109 athletes and 38 non-athletes using continuous heart rate monitoring. The contrast between the two groups was clear.

Athletes averaged 68 beats per minute (bpm), while non-athletes sat at 76 bpm. Over 24 hours, that adds up to 97,920 beats for athletes versus 109,440 beats for non-athletes, or about 10 per cent fewer.

According to Professor La Gerche, head of the HEART Lab, supported by the St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research (SVI) and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (VCCRI), this represents a saving of around 11,500 beats per day.

“Even though athletes’ hearts work harder during exercise, their lower resting rates more than make up for it.”

Professor La Gerche, Head of the HEART Lab

Slower beats, stronger hearts

Published in JACC: Advances, the study found the fittest participants had resting heart rates as low as 40 bpm, compared to the average 70–80 bpm.

Even after accounting for workout spikes, athletes still used fewer heartbeats across the day than their less active peers, which debunks the long-held notion, popularised by US President Donald Trump, that the heart is like a battery with limited energy.

“The fitter you are, the more metabolically efficient your body becomes. Even if you’re training hard for an hour a day, your heart beats more slowly for the other 23 hours. The net effect is fewer beats used overall.”

Professor La Gerche, Head of the HEART Lab

Why heart rate efficiency matters

A lower resting heart rate isn’t just a badge of fitness; it’s also linked to better health outcomes. Professor La Gerche explains that moving more, when done safely, helps strengthen the heart and reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.

“Exercise is strongly linked with improved mental health, longer lifespan and lower rates of heart disease.”

Professor La Gerche, Head of the HEART Lab

The sweet spot for fitness

Although ultra-endurance events like the Tour de France can temporarily increase daily heartbeats, the benefits of consistent, moderate exercise far outweigh any downside.

“The biggest bang for your health buck is going from unfit to moderately fit. Just a few hours of purposeful exercise each week can transform your heart’s efficiency and help make every beat count. It may even extend your life by years.”

Professor La Gerche, Head of the HEART Lab

Does this research change how you think about exercise and heart health?