5 Lesser-Known Health Metrics That Can Help Predict Longevity

Simple, accessible measures can give you insight into your health, and alert you to potential problems that can cut your life short.

Illustration by The Epoch Times, Getty Images, Shutterstock

For every 10 extra beats per minute your heart beats at rest, your risk of early death rises. Resting heart rate is just one of five metrics that can quietly predict how long you'll live—most of which your doctor probably isn’t measuring.

Longevity research is finding that certain biomarkers can signal disease years before symptoms appear, and that small, measurable shifts in these numbers can meaningfully extend both how long and how well you live. Here are the five metrics worth tracking, and what you can do to move them in the right direction.

1. Grip Strength

Grip strength is defined as the force exerted by the muscles in your hand and forearm when you squeeze.