Get a grip!

A blockbuster study reveals that a weak handshake signals possible health dangers.

Researchers at the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario found that poor hand grip can predict the chance of having a major illness or even premature death. 

They looked at 140,000 people from 17 different countries and found a clear and consistent link between weak grip strength and death from any cause, but particularly from heart attack and stroke. They claim it is a better predictor than blood pressure and could be a cheap, quick way for doctors to screen out those who need further medical attention.

“This study really strengthens the case for using grip strength as a marker for cardiovascular disease and other health problems,” says Dr. Robert McLean of the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate.

“I totally agree with the theory,” Dr. Gabe Mirkin, of Orlando, and author of “The Healthy Heart Miracle,” tells Newsmax. “Your handshake reveals your strength which comes from being healthy and free of disease. If it is weak, that could indicate that something’s going on in the rest of your body.”

In fact, the American Academy of Neurology reports that people with firm handshakes are 42 percent less likely to suffer from a stroke or dementia. Experts claim that the same cardiovascular problems that cause trouble in the brain also weaken muscles in the extremities. So, strong hands mean strong arteries.

The next red flag for stroke and dementia is that you’re walking slower than usual. Researchers at the Boston Medical Center found that middle aged people with slower walking speeds were one and a half times more likely to develop dementia. That’s because walking speed indicates general fitness,

Dr. Kevin Campbell, a leading cardiologist from North Carolina tells Newsmax: “Physical activity is important to lowering risk of stroke and dementia and those who engage both physically and socially as in the case of walking do lower their risk of these dangerous conditions.”

Poor sleep can also increase your risk of memory problems. According to a study at the Washington University School of Medicine your brain uses sleep to flush out the toxins that play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.

“Sleep provides the time to recharge and reset your body and that obviously includes the brain,” says Campbell.

“It also allows you to repair the connections between brain cells which may help explain the link between a lack of sleep and Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep is a very ordered function. It moves from cycles of light stages to deeper sleep stages where we get the most rest and brain repair. If you have interrupted sleep patterns you may never get to the deeper sleep stages and your brain will suffer.”