| If you’ve reached the ripe old age of 40 or over, and you’re wondering how likely you are to suffer a sudden heart attack or stroke, here’s a very simple test to help you find out.
Just sit on the floor with your back against a wall, bend at the waist, and see how far you can stretch beyond your toes.
This simple test gives you an idea about the stiffness of your arteries, and this is a good indicator of future cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke.
If it proves difficult or impossible, don’t despair. The research team that carried out the test on groups of people of varying ages also discovered that stretching exercises, yoga and Pilates all improved flexibility and arterial health.
(Source: AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 2009; 297: H13-14). | 
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