According to a new study conducted by the University of Maryland, your blood type could determine your risk of suffering a stroke before 60. Many people are not even aware of their blood type and never really consider its potential impact on health. However, new research indicates that it could be a significant contributing factor to having a stroke at an early age. To find out which blood type is most susceptible to early strokes, keep reading further below.
Which Blood Type Is Prone to Early Stroke?
The study took place in 2022 and involved 17,000 people who had suffered a stroke and around 600,000 healthy people. All of the study’s participants were between the ages of 18 and 59. According to the University of Maryland researchers, individuals with type A blood are at a higher risk of suffering a stroke before the age of 60. There are two types of strokes, ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes occur as a result of the lack of blood flow to a part of your brain and typically affect movement and speech. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a brain blood vessel bursts, causing hemorrhaging inside the brain. This increases the pressure exerted on the brain cells, damaging them in the process.
Any type of stroke requires immediate medical attention to help reduce brain damage and other potential complications. The average age of a stroke patient is in the 70s, although, it is most prevalent among seniors in their 90s. Yet, researchers such as one of this study’s authors noticed that more and more people were having strokes at a young age. People who experience early-onset strokes are more likely to die from the stroke, with many survivors often having to deal with decades of issues and disabilities. Yet, despite this very worrying fact, not much research on the causes of early-onset strokes has been conducted.
Read More: Which Blood Type is The Rarest? Here Are The Least to Most Common Blood Types
The Results of the Study on Blood Type and Early Stroke Risk
For this particular study, they studied the genetic makeup of individuals with either A, AB, B, or O blood type. They found that individuals in the type A blood group had a 16% higher chance of suffering from early-onset strokes. This is a rather significant finding, considering that around 36% of Americans fall into this group. While the researchers were able to determine which blood type is at higher risk, they are still no closer to understanding why this particular blood type is more vulnerable. However, the study’s author, Dr. Steven J. Kittner believes that it likely has to do with several factors that play a role in blood clot development.
The study also revealed that the group with the lowest risk was the type O blood group. Previous studies have also revealed that type A blood group people are at higher risk of developing blood clots in other parts of the body. This includes the legs, where conditions such as deep vein thrombosis can emerge. As with all studies, there are limitations that prevent researchers from discovering all the potential factors. The author noted a lack of diversity being a major limitation of this particular study, adding, “We clearly need more follow-up studies to clarify the mechanisms of increased stroke risk.”
The Bottom Line
If you are in the blood type group susceptible to strokes, it may be helpful to know which symptoms to look out for. These include issues with language, such as trouble speaking or understanding others. People also often experience weakness, numbness, or paralysis in their legs, arms, or face. Issues with vision may also arise, such as seeing double or experiencing blurry vision. Another stroke symptom to be aware of is a sudden headache that is accompanied by dizziness and vomiting. If someone is having a stroke, they may also have difficulty staying balanced and will stumble around or lose coordination. Your blood type is not the only stroke risk factor, though. Having certain preexisting conditions can increase your stroke risk, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, irregular heartbeat, or high blood pressure.
While numerous factors influence the likelihood of an early-onset stroke, this latest study suggests a relationship between blood type and stroke vulnerability. People with type A blood tend to be at a higher risk, whereas those with type O blood seem less likely to have a stroke before the age of 60. However, researchers still need to figure out why this association exists in the first place. In the meantime, living a healthy lifestyle, regulating your blood pressure, and being aware of potential stroke symptoms remain essential measures in lowering overall stroke risk – regardless of your blood type.
Read More: 12 Symptoms That Could Be Signs of a Rare Type of Blood Cancer