Strong handshake ‘a sign of a healthy heart’

A strong handshake means a strong heart, a university study has found.

An association was found between a limp grip and unwelcome changes in heart structure and function, meaning that a hand grip could be used as a broad measure of heart health.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London analysed heart scans from almost 5,000 men and women. They found that a strong grip was associated with higher volumes of blood being pumped by the heart and healthier heart muscle while people with weak handshakes were more likely to have enlarged, damaged hearts. The findings appear in the journal Public Library of Science ONE.