In The Know - 15th Issue

HEALTH SECTION
Blood Type and Your Health
Do you think knowing your blood type is only important in the event of a transfusion? Think again!
Research indicates that your blood type is a key genetic factor that influences many areas of health
and well-being.
Throughout your life, you’ve probably observed that some people tend to lose weight more easily,
while for others, their weight is an ongoing battle. Or wondered why some people are plagued by
chronic illness while others stay healthy and vital well into their advanced years. Very simply, the
answer is in your blood type.
Knowing your blood type is an important tool for understanding how your body reacts to food, your
susceptibility to disease, your natural reaction to stress, and so much more. A single drop of blood
contains a biochemical makeup as unique to you as your fingerprint.
Below are five facts about your blood type that could change your life:
Research has found that individuals of certain blood types may be at a higher risk for certain diseases;
studies have found that people with blood type O have a lower risk for heart disease, but a higher risk
for developing stomach ulcers. People who are blood type A have higher risks of microbial infections,
but Type A women experience a higher rate of fertility. Other research has found that people with
type AB and B blood have a much higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Type A people naturally have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their bodies and produce
more in response to stressful situations. On the other hand, people with type O blood, have a 'fight or
flight' reaction to stress which results in the overproduction of adrenaline. It takes type O’s longer to
recover from stress because it is more difficult for them to clear the adrenaline from their bodies.