Do Blood Types Really Matter

White blood cells which play a crucial role in the immune system.

Do blood types really matter. But klausner says that he was not aware of any data that points to that and blood type. Transfusions between blood groups can be catastrophic even deadly so knowing the blood type of donors and recipients is of the utmost importance. Since some antigens can trigger a patient s immune system to attack the transfused blood safe blood transfusions depend on careful blood typing and cross matching. The finding that blood type may affect covid 19 risk could be important for healthcare workers treating covid 19 patients because those with a blood types might need particularly strengthened.

Your white blood cells destroy invaders and fight infection. Our bodies contain trillions of red blood cells. Plasma which is a yellowish liquid that contains proteins and salts. Your red blood cells deliver oxygen to the various tissues in your body and remove carbon dioxide.

An unpublished study said that people with one blood type are more susceptible to the virus than others. In the case of blood type if a person with type a receives type b blood for example specific immune proteins called antibodies will respond by attacking the b antigens causing the red blood cells to clump which can result in death. In one study in europe researchers found that type a blood increases risk of severe covid 19 cases by 45 percent. Blood types are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens substances that can trigger an immune response if they are foreign to the body.

Type o blood is more common among african americans a little more than half. Blood types and diseases experts say research shows many diseases have been linked to blood types. We found that type ab is related to stroke risk and in general to cognitive impairment risk. Your platelets help your blood to clot.

A big puzzle is that blood type doesn t seem to matter when it comes to african americans and other people of color.