Doctors can assess the risk of heart attack, stroke or early death based on a simple analysis of the compression force of the fingers.

Conclusions interesting study published authoritative medical journal Lancet. It turned out that there is a simple and accurate method for detecting heart problems. It is easier and more efficient than filling out a questionnaire on smoking and heredity, blood pressure measurement, determine the level of cholesterol in the blood, compiling history and so forth. It is the analysis of the compression force of the fingers. And if simply, shaking hands.

An international team of scientists observed the patients in 14 countries. The study involved 140 thousand people. For several years, scientists recorded data dynamometer (instrument measuring the compressive force) and cardiac subjects. The study found that less than a handshake, the higher the risk of the most common cardiovascular diseases. This is clearly evident with age.

For example, the researchers noted that women around the age of 25 years have the force of the compression fingers about 34 kg. And in 70 years it drops to 25 kilograms. In men, the difference is up to 54 kg and 37 kg respectively.

Researchers have calculated that the reduction in force handshake 5 kg leads to an increased risk of early death by 16 percent. And the risk of heart attack increases by 17 percent. And stroke - by 9 percent.

The Handshake Can Tell You About The Health Of The Heart
The Handshake Can Tell You About The Health Of The Heart


The experts can not clearly indicate the relationship deteriorating cardiac function and reducing handshake. Some of them believe that the decrease in elasticity of the arteries due to the disruption of the heart can cause a weakening of the compressive force in the muscles of fingers: "We want to understand whether exercise to strengthen muscles reduce the risk of early death or cardiovascular disease," - says Darryl Leong of Canadian McGill University, one of the participants' rukopozhatnogo "project.

Comment Cardiologists:


To be honest, I do not see anything extraordinary in this test - said the professor of cardiology Sergei Tereshchenko. - In the last century there was a so-called isometric exercise, when to determine heart disease risk of ischemic attacks the patient had for some time to squeeze the bulb. From any load, of course, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure slightly. And it was possible to compare the data. So exercises with dynamometer by this method are not gone too far. And now there are much more precise instruments to determine the risk of cardiovascular diseases.