What is a common finding in athletes regarding heart rate?

Athletes commonly exhibit sinus bradycardia, which is a lower than normal resting heart rate, typically due to their enhanced cardiovascular efficiency. Regular training leads to physiological adaptations in the heart, such as increased stroke volume and cardiac output. As a result, their hearts can pump more blood with each beat, requiring fewer beats per minute to maintain sufficient blood flow at rest. This phenomenon is beneficial as it indicates a well-conditioned heart that can handle greater physical demands while at rest.

In contrast, higher resting heart rates are typically observed in individuals with less cardiovascular fitness, and tachycardia, which is an elevated heart rate, is not a common finding in well-trained athletes at rest. While some athletes may experience bradycardia, they are generally not unaffected by it; rather, it is a normal adaptation rather than an indicator of an issue. Hence, focusing on sinus bradycardia aligns with what is typically observed in highly trained athletes.