logo
Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Does the human heart have a limited number of heartbeats, making it pointless to exercise?

By Christiana Dillard
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
NO

The claim that a doctor advises there's no point to exercising because you'll use up your fixed number of heartbeats faster has been circulating online since at least 2009.

Research has instead shown that the heart does not stop beating because it has reached its limit of heartbeats; rather, it stops beating because it weakens. 

Although exercise does lessen the body's glycogen stores, that energy is restored through proper intake of food and water.

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Mayo Clinic Eating and exercise: 5 tips to maximize your workouts
American Heart Association American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.