But there are other diseases and risks outside of the pandemic that may besides be influenced by your blood character. Certain blood types are associated with higher risks for a string of cancers, based on data pulled from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, for exemplar. Those with AB and A blood types are besides more probably to develop stomach cancer, per a holocene study published in BioMed Central Cancer. And according to experts at the University of Pennsylvania, those with A, B, and AB lineage types besides have a 6 % greater hazard of developing coronary heart disease ; the same blood types are besides linked to an 82 % greater likelihood of developing memory issues, compared to Type O. It ‘s clear that lineage type, among other aspects of inherit genetics, may influence your health more than you know — an authoritative subject to discuss with your repair. There are a few simple ways you can find out your blood type before discussing any likely risks with your healthcare supplier.
Why should I know my blood type?
Your blood type is something you ’ rhenium born with, and it ’ sulfur determined by your parents ‘ genetics — specifically, whether or not certain antigens are present in your consistency, according to the American Red Cross. Put plainly, an antigen is a substance that prompts an immune response in the body ; it triggers your immune system to get into gear. The independent blood groups are based on the bearing or absence of two antigens, A and B, on the surface of our red blood cells. People with neither A or B antigens have what ‘s called Type O rake. The protein rhesus ( besides known as Rh ) factor may besides be salute, known as incontrovertible, or absent, known as negative .
The eight common rake types : A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, and AB- .
In the United States, O+ is the most common blood type, found in about 37 % of the population, followed by A+ in approximately 36 % of people, according to the Stanford School of Medicine Blood Center. AB- is the rarest, occurring in less than 1 % of Americans. The Red Cross considers people with Type O- blood the “ universal blood donor, ” because it can be used in hand brake rake transfusions for any other blood type. But do you very need to know your blood type ? For most people, it isn ’ t actually very significant, says Stephanie Lee, M.D., president of the american Society of Hematology and associate director of the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. “ I think it ‘s well in general to know about your health, but specifically, the two areas where [ lineage character ] comes up would be transfusion or in pregnancy, ” says Dr. Lee, who is besides a professor at the University of Washington. She explains that checkup teams do n’t rely on you sharing your blood type before any major operation or blood transfusion ; they ‘ll test your blood character advance. fraught women, in particular, routinely undergo blood-type tests to determine their Rh factor, and whether it is compatible with their baby. If a modern ma has rh-negative blood and their baby is found to be developing rh-positive lineage types, it could cause a number of complications, including spontaneous abortion, if it ‘s not caught early during pregnancy. Doctors can frequently administer what ‘s called a RhoGAM nip to offset any problems with Rh compatibility .
How to find out your blood type
The easiest way is to cursorily check your parentage certificate, since blood type is sometimes listed in give birth records, Dr. Lee says. But if you don ’ thymine have entree to that information, there are a few unlike ways to learn which blood type is running through your veins : Ask your doctor for a blood type test: A simple lab test from your primary concern doctor can reveal your blood type, Lowe-Payne says. But you ’ ll have to specifically ask for it, since it ’ s not part of act examination or health checks. And policy providers may not cover it, unless there ’ s a medical reason for the test, she adds. So patients will most probable have to pay out of pocket if they request blood oeuvre entirely to discover their lineage type. If you ‘ve previously had any blood shape done with your primary manage provider, they may already have your blood type on file. This is besides truthful for any trip to an pressing care clinic, like CVS ‘ MinuteClinic, if you ‘ve had blood draw during an unintentional visit. A request to your doctor ‘s office never hurts ! Buy an at-home blood type kit: Do a immediate Google search and you ’ ll find a murder of at-home blood type testing kits at a diverseness of monetary value points. Some ask for a belittled amount of blood from a finger cock or saliva. But many of the tests haven ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate been directly evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
Blood Type ( ABO, Rh ) Test
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“ There are no FDA-approved lineage character tests with a particular indication for home consumption to determine ABO/Rh blood type, ” an FDA spokesperson tells good Housekeeping. “ There are FDA-cleared tests intended for individual lineage group decision for educational and informational purposes only. These tests are not intended to be used for blood contribution or transfusion test. ” Tests without FDA clearance or blessing may not offer in truth accurate results, the spokesperson says, and you may besides have trouble reading test results yourself. At-home kits available from retailers like could provide you an mind of a general blood type, Lowe-Payne explains, but she is n’t certain of their accuracy. The most accurate dwelling tests may come from laboratories that conduct blood work on behalf of your provider, such as QuestDirect. Donate blood to help others : “ Donating rake is an easy way for individuals to find out what their lineage type is, ” says Prabhakar Borge, M.D., headman medical policeman of the American Red Cross. Every unit of measurement of blood donated through the organization is tested to identify the donor ’ s lineage group and Rh type, he adds. Blood donors receive a blood donor circuit board or can create an on-line donor visibility, listing their blood type. Donors don ’ t need to know their rake type before donate, but it ’ s helpful to know. For example, Type O individuals are particularly encouraged to donate because it ’ sulfur most common and is the universal joint blood type, but is much in short provide and high demand. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for lineage donations, with cases growing and many blood drives canceled, Dr. Borge explains : “ This has caused hundreds of thousands of blood donations to go uncollected. ” not only is donating lineage loose, Lowe-Payne says, but “ you ‘re saving person ‘s life in the action. ” Want to donate blood, but don’t know where to start? Make an date to visit a nearby American Red Cross blood drive, where you ‘ll be able to donate blood or platelets based on eligibility requirements ( in most cases, you need to be in good health and at least 16 years old ). You may besides donate blood through America ‘s Blood Centers in areas where the Red Cross is n’t holding a drive. You and your family, function, or school may team up to host a blood drive in your residential district through the Red Cross american samoa well .
Erica Sweeney
Erica Sweeney is a writer who by and large covers health, health and careers .
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