Final answer:
The statement is false; regular physical activity and exercise typically result in a lower resting heart rate due to improved heart efficiency and strength. The cardiac reserve increases with exercise, highlighting the importance of maintaining a target heart rate for optimal cardiovascular health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'After participating in an exercise program over a period of time, your resting heart rate should increase' is false. Regular exercise improves cardiac function and, as a result, the heart becomes larger and more muscular, enabling it to pump blood more efficiently. This increased efficiency usually translates to a lower resting heart rate in individuals who participate in regular physical activity. This is due to a stronger heart pumping a larger volume of blood per beat, known as stroke volume (SV), and therefore not needing to beat as frequently to maintain optimal cardiac output (CO).
Further, as individuals exercise, they enhance the cardiac reserve, which is the difference between resting and maximal CO. It's essential though to maintain a target heart rate during exercise, as extremely high heart rates can eventually lead to a decrease in CO due to reduced ventricular filling time. Overall, consistent aerobic exercise is key for maintaining and improving heart health, optimally keeping the resting heart rate on the lower side.