Strong handshake linked to longer life

A firm handshake helps you make a good first impression but it may also be an indicator of how long you’ll live. A recent study by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found a relationship between an individual’s ability to perform basic tasks like rising quickly from a seated position, balancing on one leg, walking briskly and having a firm grip and their chances of living a long life. Those who couldn’t perform these basic physical tasks at a high level had a higher risk of death from all causes.
In the study, people who walked the slowest had almost twice as great a mortality risk as those who could walk more quickly, and those who took the longest to get out of their chairs had a 50% increase in rate of death.
Interestingly, studies that link walking speed, rising quickly and balance to higher mortality rates have only been done in populations whose average age was over 70, but other studies have found a relationship between grip strength and mortality in younger people.
The results may be a good indicator of a senior’s present health and their risk of death but the news isn’t all bad: strength training can improve the odds.
As we age we lose strength and muscle mass and inactivity only makes things worse. Older people may find it more difficult to walk up stairs, to carry heavy bags of groceries or to cross the street quickly. And being weaker in general increases the risk of falls, illness and disease.
But strength training can make a real difference by increasing muscle mass, bone density and metabolism at any age - even if a senior has been physically inactive for some time. It may even help reduce arthritis pain and lessen symptoms of other diseases. Some medical conditions may make it unwise to pursue strength training so always check with your doctor first. If you get the OK here are some tips to get you started.




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