Grip strength important for assessing health

Dear Doctors: I am a 46-year-old woman, and I recently moved to be closer to my family. I have a new doctor who surprised me by talking about grip strength. She said it’s an important measure of health. I have never heard of this. Can you explain?

Dear Reader: Grip strength refers to the power generated by the muscles of the hand and the forearm. They work together in actions such as grabbing, pres…