Simple 10 second test could predict if you’ll outlive your friends

Wondering how long you'll live is a pretty common pastime for some people, though even if you think about it a lot you probably don't want to know the actual answer.

If you just want to get the general gist of it, then there's a decent and very quick test you can try which might give you a decent idea of how long you've got left before shuffling off your mortal coil.

There's one particular test that formed part of a health study in Brazil and it'll take you just 10 seconds to try.

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First off, you'll want to do this in a decently open space where you won't hit something on your way down if you tumble to the ground.

Then you need to stand on one leg with the other tucked behind you and your arms by your side.

If you can hold that position of standing on one leg for 10 seconds then it bodes pretty well for your longevity.

According to The Metro, this study followed 1,700 people aged between 50 and 70 and found that those who couldn't keep their balance for 10 seconds were 84 percent more likely to die in the following seven years than those who passed the test.

Falling over is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and as we get older our bodies lose an increasing amount of muscle mass.

Thousands of people die from falling over in accidents each year and of the study participants one in five were not able to stand on one leg for 10 seconds.

There are actually a few of these kinds of tests which put an aspect of your physical health through its paces.

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One of these is the 'sit to stand' test where you sit down cross-legged and try to stand up without pushing yourself off the ground or steadying yourself with your arms.

You award yourself 10 points and remove one each time you need to use your hands, forearms, knees or the side of your leg to properly stand up.

If you scored between zero and three points then you were supposed to be six times more likely to die than others in your age group.

This particular test is aimed primarily at those aged between 50 and 80, so if you're in your physical prime and struggling to do the 'sit to stand' test you probably don't need to start sorting out your will, though you might want to work on getting better at the test.

And it goes without saying - if you're genuinely concerned about your health, go and speak to your doctor or GP.

Topics: Health

Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

@MrJoeHarker