Here’s Part 1 of my Longevity Series on KRON 4: “Why Grip Strength Is a Predictor of Longevity“
What does an ‘iron-grip’ handshake say about a person’s health? How difficult is it to hang onto a beefy briefcase or a heavy bag of groceries?
Find out what your grip strength (or lack of it) says about your health and longevity plus ways to get stronger using ordinary household items.
Longevity Facts
Between age 30 to 70, men lose an average of 23% and women 22% of their lean body mass, that is, their valuable muscle.
Grip strength is affected by a person’s stature:
- Circumference of the forearm
- Circumference of the hand
- Hand length
Since stature affects grip strength, relative grip strength is a better method of assessing muscle weakness (i.e., comparing changes in strength) versus absolute grip strength using standard normative values.
Researchers found that every 11-pound decline in grip strength was linked to the following:
- 16% increase in death overall
- 17% increase in both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular death
- 7% increase in the risk of heart attack
- 9% increase in the risk of stroke
Karen’s Fit Tip: Prevent your muscles from atrophying (shrinking). Use them and feed them well. Muscle tissue needs healthy nutrients to maintain their strength and to get stronger.
