Blood Type: How Your Blood Type Can Affect Your Health

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31 Mar 2024

What is your blood type?

It's most likely that you don't. According to a report released this year by the medical laboratory company Quest Diagnostics, more Americans (66%) are aware of their horoscope sign than their blood type (51%).
You should know for strong health reasons, particularly concerning your heart. Studies indicate that individuals with specific blood types, specifically A and B, are more susceptible to blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.
“We think about blood type a lot when we think about transfusions,” says Robert Salazar, M.D., a cardiologist at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston. There may be some benefits to know about it for heart health, he adds. “Increasingly, there is a push towards the individualization of medicine and medical advice,” he explains. Adding information about blood type, he says, may help inform doctors on how to best treat patients.

Types of blood
The presence or lack of specific chemicals, known as antigens, which, if they are alien to the body, might cause an immunological reaction, is what determines blood type.
The American Red Cross lists the four major blood types as A, B, O, and AB. A protein known as the Rh factor exists in addition to these antigens and can either be present (+) or lacking (-). Eight blood subtypes are thus identified as follows: A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, and AB-.

Heart Disease
For blood type O, there is excellent news. Your risk of coronary heart disease is generally lower, according to research. Experts are unsure about the cause. Some speculate that it could be because other varieties are more likely to contain elevated levels of clotting-related protein and cholesterol.

Stomach Cancer
Blood types A, AB, and B are more vulnerable than type O. More specifically, stomach cancer is more common in those with type A blood. Researchers speculate that this could be because individuals with type A blood have a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection. That particular bacteria is typically discovered in the stomach. Ulcers and inflammation may result from it.

Memory
A tiny study found that individuals with memory impairments had higher levels of type AB blood than normal.

Pancreatic Cancer
If you identify as type A, AB, or B, your risk is increased. Type A and type B red blood cells contain molecules that aid in the growth of the H. pylori bacteria in your stomach. It may increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Stress
Your body produces more cortisol—the stress hormone—when you are under stress. In any case, type A blood types typically have higher cortisol levels. Thus, you could find it more difficult to handle pressure-filled circumstances.

Malaria
Blood type O may be able to prevent this illness. A mosquito carrying the malaria virus can bite you and infect you. Its causative parasite finds it more difficult to cling to type O blood cells.

Ulcers
Blood type O appears to be associated with an increased risk of peptic ulcers, which are painful open sores that develop in the lining of the stomach or upper intestine.

Blood Clots
When blood clots in a deep vein, such as those in your legs, it is known as venous thromboembolism (VTE). Sometimes, these clots spread to your lungs. Individuals with blood types A, B, or AB are more likely to have VTE, according to research.

Life Span
If you have type O blood, your chances of living a longer life are increased. Experts speculate that one reason for this could be your decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is an illness of the heart and blood arteries.

Fertility
Although it can't tell you whether you'll get pregnant, your blood type might be an influence. According to one study, women with type O blood were more likely than any other type to have low levels of healthy eggs in their bodies. To determine why, more investigation is required.

Diabetes
Blood types A and B seem to be associated with a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes. Experts cannot determine why. Further investigation is required.

Stroke
Due to its higher propensity to clot than other blood types, blood type AB is associated with an increased risk of stroke.