The chances of having a heart
attack, stroke or dying young may be
hidden in the palm of the hand, a
study suggests.
A trial on nearly 140,000 people in 14
countries, published in the Lancet,
suggests grip strength is better than blood
pressure at predicting risk.
The international research team said it
would be a "simple, inexpensive" tool for
doctors.
Experts argued the link between grip and
the heart was unclear and needed more
study.
The maximum crushing force you can
exert in your grip naturally declines with
age.
But those whose grip strength declines
fastest may be at greater risk of health
problems, the study suggests.
Women in their mid-20s have a grip
strength about 75lb (34kg), which falls
to 53lb in a 70-year-old.
The equivalent figures for men are
119lb (54kg) falling to 84lb.
The huge trial, in 14 countries, showed
each 11lb (5kg) reduction in grip strength
increased the odds of an early death by
16%.
The odds of a fatal heart problem
increased by 17% and a stroke by 9%.
Doctors currently calculate the chances of
a heart attack or stroke by filling out a
questionnaire with the patient by
assessing age, whether they smoke,
obesity, cholesterol levels, blood pressure
where they live and family history.
The researchers argue grip strength
makes more accurate predictions than
blood pressure alone and could be a new
tool for assessing risk.
'Easy test'
Dr Darryl Leong, one of the researchers at
McMaster University in Canada, said:
"Grip strength could be an easy and
inexpensive test to assess an individual's
risk of death and cardiovascular disease.
"Further research is needed to establish
whether efforts to improve muscle
strength are likely to reduce an
individual's risk of death and
cardiovascular disease."
It is still unknown why worsening heart
health could manifest as a weaker grip.
Suggestions included hardening arteries
reducing muscle strength.
Doireann Maddock, from the British
Heart Foundation, said: "The findings of
this study are interesting. However, it
doesn't explain why grip strength should
be related to cardiovascular disease.
"More research is needed to understand
any possible link between the two.
"The good news is we already know there
are several established risk factors for
cardiovascular disease and an NHS health
check can assess your risk."
www.josiahdele.blogspot.com
attack, stroke or dying young may be
hidden in the palm of the hand, a
study suggests.
A trial on nearly 140,000 people in 14
countries, published in the Lancet,
suggests grip strength is better than blood
pressure at predicting risk.
The international research team said it
would be a "simple, inexpensive" tool for
doctors.
Experts argued the link between grip and
the heart was unclear and needed more
study.
The maximum crushing force you can
exert in your grip naturally declines with
age.
But those whose grip strength declines
fastest may be at greater risk of health
problems, the study suggests.
Women in their mid-20s have a grip
strength about 75lb (34kg), which falls
to 53lb in a 70-year-old.
The equivalent figures for men are
119lb (54kg) falling to 84lb.
The huge trial, in 14 countries, showed
each 11lb (5kg) reduction in grip strength
increased the odds of an early death by
16%.
The odds of a fatal heart problem
increased by 17% and a stroke by 9%.
Doctors currently calculate the chances of
a heart attack or stroke by filling out a
questionnaire with the patient by
assessing age, whether they smoke,
obesity, cholesterol levels, blood pressure
where they live and family history.
The researchers argue grip strength
makes more accurate predictions than
blood pressure alone and could be a new
tool for assessing risk.
'Easy test'
Dr Darryl Leong, one of the researchers at
McMaster University in Canada, said:
"Grip strength could be an easy and
inexpensive test to assess an individual's
risk of death and cardiovascular disease.
"Further research is needed to establish
whether efforts to improve muscle
strength are likely to reduce an
individual's risk of death and
cardiovascular disease."
It is still unknown why worsening heart
health could manifest as a weaker grip.
Suggestions included hardening arteries
reducing muscle strength.
Doireann Maddock, from the British
Heart Foundation, said: "The findings of
this study are interesting. However, it
doesn't explain why grip strength should
be related to cardiovascular disease.
"More research is needed to understand
any possible link between the two.
"The good news is we already know there
are several established risk factors for
cardiovascular disease and an NHS health
check can assess your risk."
www.josiahdele.blogspot.com
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