A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the risk of coronavirus may be related to blood type, and that people with type A blood fare worse, both at risk of contracting the disease and dealing with it. its complications.
But many Americans don’t seem to know their own blood type.
A survey conducted last year by medical testing company Quest Diagnostics found that only 57 percent of American adults knew whether they were A, B, AB, or O. That compares with 74 percent who can remember their password. Wifi.
But there are many reasons, in addition to the risks of a pandemic, to know your blood type. These are some of them, and how people in the Bay Area can find out which is theirs.
What determines your blood type?
Blood types classify your blood according to the antigens it contains, including Rhesus or Rh factor.
Antigens are a type of protein in red blood cells. Depending on the type of antigen, your blood is classified as Type A, Type B, Type AB, or Type O.
The Rh factor determines the positive and negative signs along with your blood type. If you have Rh factor in your red blood cells, it is considered Rh positive (+), and if you do not have it, it is Rh negative (-).
You inherit your blood type from your parents, although there can be many combinations and yours will not necessarily be the same.
Why it is important to know your blood type
There are several important reasons to know your blood type. They include:
Donating blood. Your blood type indicates to whom you can safely donate or receive blood.
Your immune system will identify antigens in donated blood to determine if it is compatible. Receiving the wrong blood type can trigger an immediate immune system response that can be serious and even life threatening.
O positive is the most common blood type, and O negative is a universal donor, which means it can be given to anyone during a transfusion, but can only receive its type.
You can find more information about your particular blood type in this fact sheet from Johns Hopkins University.
The pregnancy. During pregnancy, the Rh status of the mother and baby must match to prevent the mother’s immune system from reacting as if it were allergic to the baby. In severe cases, the Rh incompatible state can cause serious complications. However, preventive treatment can prevent such reactions.
Identify health risks.. Blood type is believed to play a role in a variety of medical conditions, including COVID-19. Epidemiologists have long known that one’s blood type plays an important role in how a person can react to infectious diseases.
The study published June 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people with type O blood, who are less likely to develop inflammation during infection, suffer from heart disease and other serious conditions, were more protected from the coronavirus.
Type A, the type most associated with a high risk of coronavirus complications, is also associated with certain types of cancer, higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and malaria.
According to the University of Pennsylvania medical system, blood type may be related to other health problems, including:
• People with blood types A, B, and AB are 6.2% more likely to develop coronary heart disease than people with Type O.
• Types A, B, and AB are also linked to an 82% greater probability of memory problems than Type O.
• People with AB blood are 21% more likely to develop stomach cancer than those with other blood types.
How can you find out your blood type
Home test: You can buy a DIY test online or at most drugstores. The test involves a small prick of the finger with a sharp instrument, and the results are available in less than 5 minutes.
Donate blood: If you donate blood, you will have a blood type test. If you have donated in the past, you can call the blood bank to find out your blood type.
Hospital or medical records: You may have had screening tests for your blood type before, or it could have been included in your medical record if you had surgery. (You can also ask your doctor for a blood type test.)
Prenatal care: During a pregnancy, OB / GYNs routinely perform blood type tests to determine Rh factor compatibility.
Annie Vainshtein is a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @annievain
