Handshake test can show things about your health - including risk of early death

31 January 2024 , 15:11

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Your handshake can indicate the state of your health (Image: Getty Images)

None of us can see the future, not even medical professionals, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't all be on the lookout for signs that our health isn't in the best shape, or that something in our bodies has recently changed. While you can never know for sure exactly how long you will live, there are certain things that can indicate the real state of your health, including whether or not you may have a serious health condition that might lead to premature death.

Many factors come into play when considering the likelihood of an early death, or living until a ripe old age, and these include what kind of lifestyle you lead and any diseases you are genetically predisposed towards - but there is one incredibly quick test you can do yourself that might indicate what state your health is in.

The test involves simply shaking the hand of another person, and deciphering how strong your grip is because a weakness when gripping can predict that you are in a high-risk group for premature death.

This is because weakness in grip can be a sign of some serious health conditions like dementia and heart problems. Various studies have been conducted into this and showed repeatedly that there may be links between those who have a weaker grip in their hands and a higher risk of dying early.

When it comes to heart problems, weakness in the hands can show that someone's heart is weaker too, and not pumping blood as efficiently around the body. Equally, in those older patients with high blood pressure, a study showed that there was a higher risk of "all-cause death".

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On the other hand, those with stronger grips were lower risk, and the study showed that this suggests "that functional exercise can improve the prognosis of comorbidities."

Weakness of grip can also be a sign of being at risk for heart attack and stroke, another study showed, and this has even been traced back to being signalled by those in middle age.

A separate study, found in the British Medical Journal, focused on more than 1.1 million participants concluded that those who develop a weak hold in midlife have a 20 percent higher risk of death from heart and respiratory diseases and cancer.

Weakness in the hands has also been possibly linked to depression and as an early indicator of dementia. This simple test is free, and as an easy way to keep an eye on your overall health, is something we should all be keeping an eye on regularly.

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Emma Mackenzie