Push-ups have long been a fundamental exercise – it's straightforward, requires no equipment and can easily be done anywhere. A new study claims your ability to perform 40 push-ups might also be able to reduce your risk of heart disease.

In a study released on February 15, researchers from Harvard University set out to study the relationship between fitness and cardiovascular health. The longitudinal study followed a group of 1,104 firefighters and assessed their physical fitness over a period of 10 years. The tests included push-up capacity and treadmill exercise tolerance tests. They also filled out health questionnaires and underwent physical exams. 

Researchers then examined cardiovascular disease-related events among the participants, defined as diagnosis of coronary artery disease or major events such as heart failure or sudden cardiac death.

One of the key findings was a 96-percent reduction in cardiovascular disease incidents in the group of participants who could do 40 or more push-ups, compared to those who could do less than 10.

The findings could help practitioners identify the risk of heart disease early on. "The push-up examination requires no special equipment, is low cost or no cost, can easily be performed in almost any setting within two minutes, and provides an objective estimate of functional status," the researchers wrote in the study. 

Previous studies have also found an association between a higher level of muscular strength and cardiometabolic risk markers, though researchers say more studies are needed.

One of the test limitations was the demographic of the participants in the study. The group consisted of men between the ages of 21 and 66. Further tests will have to examine whether the findings hold true for women and people of other age groups.