Handshake strength 'could predict' heart attack risk
May-14-2015

The strength of your handshake could signal the chance of a future heart attack, a major study in The Lancet suggests.

The research found the vigour of a person's hand-grip could predict the risk of heart attacks and strokes - and was a stronger predictor of death than checking systolic blood pressure.

Experts said a grip test could be a simple, low-cost way to predict the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The international study, involving almost 140,000 adults in 17 countries found weak grip strength is linked with shorter survival and a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

It also found that grip strength is a stronger predictor of death than systolic blood pressure.

The researchers suggest that it could be used as a quick, low-cost screening tool by doctors to identify high-risk patients among people who develop major illnesses such as heart failure and stroke.

Reduced muscular strength, which can be measured by grip strength, has been consistently linked with early death, disability, and illness. But there has been limited research on whether grip strength could be used to indicate heart health.

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