Resting heart rate refers to the number of heartbeats per minute during periods of wakeful inactivity. It is a vital marker of cardiovascular health, metabolic efficiency, and autonomic nervous system function.

Typically, a lower resting heart rate indicates superior heart health. The standard range for resting heart rates is 60–100 beats per minute, but recent studies suggest that higher resting heart rates are associated with increased mortality risks.

A multi-nation study utilizing longitudinal data from France, the UK, and the US has confirmed a connection between faster heart rates and shorter lifespans.

This research compiled data from three extensive population cohort studies, offering a detailed look at how heart rate influences longevity.

The Paris Prospective Study in France observed 7,976 healthy men aged 42–53 over nearly two decades. Results indicated that individuals with lower resting heart rates lived longer. Importantly, for every 10 beats per minute increase in resting heart rate within a five-year period, the risk of death increased by 20%.

In the UK, the Whitehall Study tracked 1,226 healthy men with an average age of 52 for almost 40 years. Similar to the French findings, the study highlighted an inverse relationship between resting heart rate and lifespan.

The Framingham Study in the US included 4,001 women with an average age of 47 and 3,299 men averaging 45 years old. Over follow-up periods of 32.8 and 30.9 years, respectively, 2,409 female deaths and 2,172 male deaths were documented. The study revealed that a 10 beats per minute increase in resting heart rate over eight years elevated the mortality risk by 13% in men and 9% in women.

Researchers have explored potential explanations for the relationship between heart rate and lifespan. One theory involves total energy expenditure over a lifetime. In mammals, smaller body sizes correlate with higher metabolic rates, requiring faster heartbeats to regulate body temperature effectively. This increased metabolic demand might explain the observed connection, as heart rate acts as a proxy for total energy use.

Animal experiments also support the link between lower heart rates and prolonged lifespans. In mammals, slower heart rates have been associated with increased longevity, though similar research in healthy humans remains limited. Given the straightforward nature of measuring heart rates, this metric could serve as a valuable tool for monitoring health and predicting lifespan.

The findings underscore the importance of understanding and maintaining a healthy resting heart rate to promote longevity and overall well-being.