The strength of your handshake could predict whether you die early

THE strength of your handshake is even more important after a new study finds it could predict an early death.

THE strength of your handshake could predict how long you will live, new research has shown.

According to The Economist, a paper published in the Lancet, found that having a weak hand grip means you are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

During the study, the average grip strength was found to be 300 newtons, which was measured using a hand-held dynameter and determined by testing the grips of 140,000 people aged between 35 and 70 in 17 countries around the world.

They included participants from rich and poor countries including Canada, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

After four years, researchers noted an interesting pattern.

Those who had a below average grip experienced a greater risk of health problems, which increased the weaker their grip was.

Researchers found that for every 50 newtons below the average, the risk of death was increased by 16 per cent. In particular there was a 17 per cent increase in dying from heart disease.

It was also linked to a greater risk of having a heart attack (7 per cent), and a 9 per cent increase in the chance of having a stroke.

Those with a strong grip were also more likely to survive cancer or chronic heart disease.

It was not known whether muscle weakness was causing the illness, or it was simply a symptom of an existing illness.

Regardless it could make a difference to the diagnosis of conditions like cardiovascular disease, because doctors could use grip strength as an early indication of some illnesses.

Strong grip: Looks like Mark Latham is set for a long life.

Originally published as The strength of your handshake could predict whether you die early