Epilepsy Talk

What you don’t know about your blood type could save your life!  | April 20, 2025

Do you know your blood type?

There’s a good chance that you don’t.

More Americans know their horoscope sign (66 percent) than their blood type (51 percent), according to a recent survey published by the medical laboratory company Quest Diagnostics.

Here are some compelling health reasons why you should know, especially when it comes to your heart…

Research suggests that people with certain blood types — namely A and B — are at higher risk to develop blood clots and to have heart attacks and strokes.

Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of certain substances, called antigens, that can trigger an immune response if they are foreign to the body. 

There are four main blood types: A, B, O and AB, according to the American Red Cross.

Blood Type O

Chances are higher you’ll live longer if you have type O blood. Experts think the lowered risk of disease in your heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease) may be one reason for this.

Some think it might be because other types are more likely to have higher cholesterol and higher amounts of a protein that’s linked to clotting.

Believe it or not, although your blood type can’t predict whether you’ll get pregnant, it may play a role!

In one study, women with low numbers of healthy eggs were more likely to have type O blood than any other type. More research is needed to figure out why.

Type O blood may also help ward off Malaria…

You can get malaria when an infected mosquito bites you. The parasite that causes it has a harder time attaching itself to type O blood cells.

On the other hand, peptic ulcers — painful open sores that crop up in the lining of your stomach or upper intestine — seem to happen more often with blood type O. 

Blood Type A

People with type A blood can have a harder time than others managing stress because they often produce more of the stress hormone cortisol.

They are more likely to get stomach cancer.

Researchers think this might be because H. pylori infection is more common in people with type A blood. Which is a bacteria that’s usually found in the stomach. It can cause inflammation and ulcers.

Blood type A may impact stroke risk, too.

A 2022 study published in the medical journal Neurology reviewed 48 studies of 17,000 stroke patients and found that people with type A were 16 percent more likely to have an early stroke than people with other blood types, and those with type O were 12 percent less likely. 

Blood Types A and B

People with blood types A and B are at higher risk to develop blood clots compared with people who have type O blood, according to a 2020 study published in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

The study, which looked at more than 400,000 people, found that types A and B were 50 percent more likely to develop blood clots in the legs called deep vein thrombosis.

And 47 percent of people are more likely to develop a pulmonary embolism — when a clot travels to the lungs — than people with type O blood. They were 8 percent more likely to have a heart attack and 10 percent more likely to experience heart failure than type Os.

Also, type 2 diabetes seems to happen more often in people with blood types A and B. Experts aren’t sure why. More research is needed.

Blood Type AB

A small study showed that people with memory problems had type AB blood more than any other.

Type AB’s are likely to battle with thinking problems later on in their lives as well as other issues of cognitive impairment and performance.

However, this is not cause for panic in those with type AB blood as other factors such as physical fitness, diet and smoking also have a role to play when it comes to memory problems.

Each of these factors can slow the development of the brain down and in turn, lead to issues with one’s memory.

Also, your risk for a stroke goes up if you have blood type AB. Doctors think that’s because it’s more likely to clot than other types. 

Blood Type B

B negative blood can be accepted by anyone having B positive blood group. In about 8.5 per cent of people, It is the third most common blood group.

It has been found that people with B-positive blood groups possess a strong immune system and stable nervous system.

They are believed to be more resistant to diseases of the digestive system because it helps to adapt to the changes in diet as per requirement.

Healthy individuals with a B-positive blood group can have fewer risks to diseases as compared to other types.

How to find out your blood type

A simple blood test can reveal your blood type.

If you’re curious, you can ask your doctor to have it tested the next time you need bloodwork. There’s another very quick and easy way to figure out your blood type that’s also altruistic:

Give blood.

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Resources:

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-how-your-blood-type-affects-your-health

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2023/how-your-blood-type-affects-your-health.html

https://www.mymed.com/health-wellness/interesting-health-info/how-does-your-blood-type-affect-your-health/does-my-blood-type-impact-my-risk-of-diseases-and-other-conditions

https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/april/blood-typeshttps:

https://www.aplustopper.com/blood-group-b-positive-advantages-and-disadvantages/.

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/what-does-your-blood-type-mean-for-your-health

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