Your Blood Type Affects Your Heart Health, Science Says

What blood type are you?

According to the American Heart Association, people with type A, type B, or type AB blood are more likely to have a heart attack or experience heart failure than people with type O.

A reason for this slightly higher risk may be due to inflammation that happens in the bodies of people with type A, type B, or type AB blood. The proteins, which are present in type A and type B blood can cause more “blockage” or “thickening” in veins and arteries, increasing the risk of clots and heart disease, according to Guggenheim.

People with type O blood have a slightly lower risk of heart disease and blood clots, but they may be more vulnerable to hemorrhaging or bleeding disorders. According to a study on postpartum blood loss, women with type O blood exhibit increased blood loss after delivery.

According to another study, people with type O blood may do worse after a traumatic injury due to increased blood loss.

Other research shows that people with type AB blood were associated with an increased incidence of cognitive impairment compared to people with type O blood. Cognitive impairment includes things like trouble remembering, concentrating, or making decisions.

Lifestyle and blood type

While research suggests that blood type may increase one’s risk of developing heart disease, big factors such as diet, exercise, or even pollution may also play a role in affecting heart health.

For people trying to keep their hearts healthy, Guggenheim says there is no specific recommendation other than a good heart-healthy diet, regardless of one’s blood type.

“A well-balanced, heart-healthy diet will normally be what any physician is going to recommend, and I would say ABO doesn’t change that,” Guggenheim says.

Read Top 8 Ways to Improve Heart Health According to an Interventional Cardiologist