Final answer:
Medical studies support Dr. Jones's conclusion that more exercise can lead to a lower resting pulse, noting that even moderate regular physical activity has significant health benefits and is linked to a lower heart rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Jones's conclusion that increasing exercise can lead to a lower resting pulse is supported by evidence demonstrating the benefits of regular physical activity. According to the studies, as little as 30 minutes of noncontinuous exercise daily can vastly improve cardiovascular health, lowering the risk of heart attack by nearly 50%. Observations have shown that individuals with higher amounts of exercise often have lower resting heart rates; for instance, trained athletes often experience bradycardia, which is a resting heart rate below 60 bpm, without adverse symptoms. Moreover, studies suggest that being fit, even if overweight, may lead to better health than being sedentary and slender.
The data indicating that students who exercised between 16 and 20 hours a week had the lowest resting pulse aligns with the notion that moderate-to-high levels of exercise contribute to cardiovascular efficiency. Nonetheless, it's important to note that individual fitness levels and resting heart rates can vary with age and overall health. The statistical data, such as the given slope illustrating the inverse relationship between swim time and heart rate, further corroborates the idea that increased physical effort leads to a lower resting pulse.