How Healthy Are You? 10 Easy Self-Checks

Are Your Joints Healthy?

Twenty-seven million people in the United States over age 25 suffer from osteoarthritis, a condition that happens when the cartilage in your joints deteriorates and moving the joint is painful, according to the National Institutes of Health. To help gauge your risk, hold up one hand and take a look. If your index finger is shorter than your ring finger, you may be nearly twice as likely to develop osteoarthritis, according to a study in Arthritis & Rheumatism. The finger-length discrepancy points to lower-than-average levels of estrogen, which may be a cause of the condition.

Index finger shorter than ring finger = Poor (Higher Risk)
Index finger equal to or longer than ring finger = Good (Lower Risk)

Health Rx

Help prevent osteoarthritis by regularly doing a variety of exercises and maintaining a healthy weight, which puts less strain on joints, says Michele Olson, PhD, a FITNESS advisory board member and a professor of exercise science at Auburn University at Montgomery.