Men who can do more than 40 push-ups are 96% less likely to have coronary issues than guys who can't do 10: Research

Drop and give yourself a longer life.

According to a new Harvard University study, men who can do 40 push-ups are 96% less likely to have heart problems than those who can’t do more than 10,

The fitness survey focused on
1,562 male firefighters in Indiana who were separated into five groups based on how many push-ups the they could do. Those participants were then studied for a decade.

While researchers admitted their findings merited further examination, they concluded the hook-and-ladder men who pushed their way into the quad-club experienced fewer heart-related problems and saved themselves a bit of cash.

“Although larger studies in more diverse cohorts are needed, push-up capacity may be a simple, no-cost measure to estimate functional status,” the researchers wrote in the report.

Researchers also tested subjects on treadmills, but found push-ups to be a more reliable indicator of coronary health.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men and women internationally.

In the U.S., 610,000 people die of heart problems every year, accounting for one of every four deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By Brian Niemietz