I was curious so I did the math - using the average heart rate of 68 bpm * 60 minutes, that's 4080 beats per hour (I think in the session they used 70 bpm to get 4200). So take the average life expectancy (76 in 1996 at the time of the session) and multiply by 4080 and we get 310,080, which is roughly the grand cycle. Even using 70 bpm we're looking at 319,000, which is in the ballpark. Not sure if coincidence or maybe intentional to keep someone alive through an entire grand cycle if needed?
That's crazy, although it may not be the case that slowing the heartbeat to 1 per hr translates directly to increase in years of life. But certainly it would prolong it, a LOT.
Is it just the smoke or the nicotine and chemicals in the body that they don’t like?
Seems to me it's likely the nicotine. There isn't much else that I'm aware of that is beneficial to humans in inhaling tobacco smoke. So nicotine vaping would be a good alternative if smoking baccy is off the table.