All else being equal, a higher metabolic rate will mean a higher pulse, apparently somewhere around 85 beats/minute for an adult during the day (lower pulse in the morning due to cortisol, etc.). I understand this, and it makes sense. But what if all else is not equal? In particular, it seems there might be two complicating factors here:
VO2 max - my understanding is that certain types of exercise can increase an individual's ability to efficiently absorb and transport oxygen. Is this true? If so, then theoretically wouldn't an active individual with a greater VO2 max require a lower resting pulse than a more sedentary individual, all else being equal?
CO2 saturation - according to Dr Peat and Dr Buteykom, increased CO2 can decrease pulse rate because "relaxes the blood vessels so it decreases peripheral resistance and that makes the heart able to pump more blood more easily with less work. So it usually means a bigger stroke volume [...] your heart doesn't have to work so frantically."
So what's the deal? It seems like a healthy, athletic person (higher VO2 max) who also has high CO2 levels could conceivably have a very low pulse. So in that case would a low pulse *not* be a warning sign of a low metabolism?
VO2 max - my understanding is that certain types of exercise can increase an individual's ability to efficiently absorb and transport oxygen. Is this true? If so, then theoretically wouldn't an active individual with a greater VO2 max require a lower resting pulse than a more sedentary individual, all else being equal?
CO2 saturation - according to Dr Peat and Dr Buteykom, increased CO2 can decrease pulse rate because "relaxes the blood vessels so it decreases peripheral resistance and that makes the heart able to pump more blood more easily with less work. So it usually means a bigger stroke volume [...] your heart doesn't have to work so frantically."
So what's the deal? It seems like a healthy, athletic person (higher VO2 max) who also has high CO2 levels could conceivably have a very low pulse. So in that case would a low pulse *not* be a warning sign of a low metabolism?