There are several facts about blood type A that may not be widely known to its owners. One of these facts is that people with blood type A are thought to be more prone to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
Since the last few decades, there have been a number of studies claiming that blood type is closely related to the risk of several types of diseases. In other words, a person with a certain blood type, including blood type A, may be susceptible to certain diseases as well.
Risk of Disease in Blood Type A
There are several health conditions that are often associated with blood type A, including:
1. Cardiovascular disease
According to research, those with blood type A are at risk of cardiovascular disease at least 5 percent higher than blood type O. Not only that, a study also found that blood type A tends to be more prone to increased levels of bad cholesterol (LDL).
High LDL levels can increase the risk of heart disease. However, these various risks still need to be investigated further.
2. Gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer
The results of the study show that people with blood types A, B, and AB are thought to be at higher risk of stomach cancer than blood type O. In addition, people with blood types A, B, and AB are also more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.
3. Dtype 2 diabetes
There are studies that state that people with blood types A and B are slightly more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people with blood type O.
However, this is still limited to small-scale studies. So, further studies are needed to determine the link between blood type A and diabetes.
4. Malaria
People with blood type A are also said to be more prone to experiencing more severe symptoms when exposed to malaria than people with blood type O. One of the disorders that may be experienced is blood clots that can cause damage to body tissues.
In addition to the fact that blood type A is related to medical conditions, several experts also conduct research on diets based on blood type. People with blood type A are thought to have a lower immune system.
Therefore, the owner of blood type A is recommended to always maintain the immune system by eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. They are also advised to avoid meat and dairy products.
However, this blood type-based diet method does not yet have accurate scientific evidence and further research is still needed.
Tips for Preventing Various Diseases
In order to avoid or reduce the risk of developing various diseases, people with any blood type are recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle, such as:
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts
- Avoid processed foods and soft drinks
- Maintain and check blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and body cholesterol levels regularly
- Exercise for 30–60 minutes every day
- Maintain ideal body mass index (BMI)
- Adequate sleep time for 7-9 hours per day
As mentioned above, the facts about blood type A that are associated with certain diseases still require further research.
Regardless of the type of blood type you have, everyone is advised to always adopt a healthy lifestyle and carry out regular health checks to the doctor to detect certain diseases. In this way, action can be taken immediately.
