What does an engine blowout mean for your body? Studies have found that having a sluggish heart rate recovery is related to higher risks of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even sudden death.
In addition, HRR signifies your level of fitness. To continue the car metaphor, when your brakes are working well, you can get back to pushing the gas pedal again faster — in other words, you’re more fit, says Alex Viada, C.S.C.S., coach and owner of Complete Human Performance.
When you exercise, your heart rate ramps up to provide your muscles and cells with nutrients and oxygen, and pull out byproducts of metabolic processes called metabolites, Viada explains. “The more fit you are, the faster everything returns to baseline when you stop working out.”