Information provided  from Mary Cushman, MD, a hematologist and professor of medicine at University of Vermont.

Scientists first began theorizing about the links between blood type and disease risks decades ago. An increasing body of evidence shows that people with certain blood types have higher odds of developing an array of common medical conditions, including heart attacks, strokes and other serious health problems.

No specific blood type causes a health problem to develop, – researchers have uncovered an association, meaning that some medical conditions are more likely to occur in people with certain blood types.

Type O appears to be the least hazardous.  Non-O types(A,B or AB) are linked to higher risks for certain health problems.

Blood Clots:People with non-O blood types experience on average 60% to 80% higher risks for clotting problems such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) according to 2016 review published in WIREs “Systems Biology and Medicine.”  

With DVT and PE blood clots form in the legs and can break off and travel  to the lungs in a devastating fashion.  Together, these conditions kill up to 1000,000 Americans yearly.

MEMORY PROBLEMS:  People with blood type AB were 82% more likely to develop precursors to dementia such as thinking and memory impairments, according to 2014 University of Vermont research examining more than 30,000 people and published in Neurology.

CANCER: For unknown reasons, type A individuals are 20% more likely to develop stomach malignancy than those with type O blood, according to research published in American Journal of Epidemiology. Also, people with type O blood are significantly more likely to be hospitalized with peptic ulcers than those with other blood types.

HEART ATTACK & STROKE: Researchers found that those with non O  blood types had a 9% higher risk of  experiencing a heart attack or stroke.  Dutch scientists uncovered the association after reviewing 11 different populations from nine individual studies.  People with type A tend to have higher cholesterol than other blood types. 

Get serious about a healthy lifestyle. Become aware of your own blood type and how it may raise your odds for certain health problems and take every possible step to minimize those odds..

Those with non O blood types would be wise to adopt healthy habits that all of us should already be practicing…being physically active…maintaining a healthy body weight…not smoking.. eating a plant-focused, nutrient-dense diet. Also, routine screenings with your primary physician, including blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels.