Thursday, May 14, 2015

Does this mean I'll live forever?

Hmmmm. Not sure what to make of this.

Apparently a new study says handshake strength 'could predict' heart attack risk and and is a "stronger predictor" of death than blood pressure checks.


The article notes, "The international study, involving almost 140,000 adults in 17 countries, found weak grip strength is linked with shorter survival and a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke."

The reason I'm skeptical? It's because I have a crushing grip thanks to years of milking cows. Often I have to back down my handshake lest I hurt the person I'm greeting.


On the other hand (no pun intended), maybe that means I'll live forever....

8 comments:

  1. LOL! Same here, Patrice! All that cow milking and music playing and general tomboy doin's plus a hand size that can span ten keys on the piano have given me a handshake that always gets comments from men, and always requires conscious effort not to squeeze too hard when I'm shaking the hand of a lady.
    Add to this the comment a doc once made about my 'good cholesterol' count being "in the live-forever range" and it starts to sound like I might be sticking around on this side of Heaven for a while yet, too, God willing.

    A. McSp

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  2. Ear lobe creases! http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2892/are-earlobe-creases-a-sign-of-heart-disease

    The biggest risk factor for heart disease is genetics and number 2 (which is technically genetics as well) is diabetes.

    Some people believe moderately increased cholesterol is a risk but the facts don't support it. It is true that a substantial cholesterol level is a risk but this is a genetic disorder and not a result of eating eggs or meat.
    The major non-genetic risk of heat attack (not necessarily heart disease) is blood clots. This is a identifiable and treatable health condition and should be taken seriously.

    Lastly there is the common cause of death we call "natural causes". For example a old and not well person dies in his/her sleep. Often this death can be tied to their heart simply stopping or failing in some way. It is often counted in the heart attack statistics.

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  3. Another reason to back down your grip is for consideration of those who may have Arthritis. I have it in my thumbs and men especially seem to think they have to crush a woman's hand. It's totally rude.

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  4. Patrice I have been reading your columns for a short time but LOVE them and just had to comment on this one. Since I was a little girl my father instilled in us a strong firm handshake. He felt this showed your inner strength and resolve. Plus the fact that I had done martial arts and worked with my hands all my life have given me quite a bit of strength in my hands, so much so I have had men comment on my crushing grip. I don't even try, I just believe in a firm handshake and there you are. And some people have complained about it LOL! Oh well my husband isn't bothered by it as he says I give the best back massages in the world. But I'll be sure not to tell him about this living forever thing as that's a long time of giving back rubs ;)
    Red

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  5. Our daughter milks our cows. Never play thumbs with her.

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  6. If there's any truth in it, I expect that it has to do with stress level. I've noticed that a lot of people with weak handshakes tend to be fried-out business types who spend a lot of time playing Keeping Up With The Joneses and worrying about what people will think. That'll kill your heart (in more ways than one).

    My dad had a perfect handshake. Firm without being crushing. I also note that a handshake from my dad was as good as a contract. He believed in such things. I note, oddly, that he was a committed liberal, bordering on socialist.

    I also note, however, that it was sudden heart failure ( or a broken heart, if you want my opinion) that killed him at a mere 58 years of age.

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  7. Goes to show, Don't believe everything you here....

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  8. Just an observation, but the Bloods and the Crips don't even grip hands. They do seem to have shorter life spans than the general population.
    Montana Guy

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