Get acquainted with the characteristics of the blood groups a, b, ab, and o

What is your blood type? A, B, O, or AB? Basically everyone has a different blood type. The difference in the type of this group is based on the presence or absence of antigens on red blood cells and blood plasma. Given that blood has an important role for the body, you need to know the characteristics of each blood type. Check out the full review of blood types below.

What are the characteristics of blood groups?

Blood in the body generally contains the same basic components, namely red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells produced in the spinal cord play a role in carrying oxygen throughout the body. For every 600 red blood cells in the body, there are only 40 platelets and one white blood cell whose job is to protect your body from germs.

On the surface of red blood cells, there are proteins that bind to carbohydrates. These bonds are used to determine the type of blood you have, which are called antigens.

The antigens are grouped into eight basic blood types, namely A, B, AB, and O, each of which can have positive or negative (rhesus) variations.

Your blood type or blood type was passed down from your parents. The most common blood grouping is called the ABO blood group system.

The following are the characteristics of blood groups:

A: only has A antigen on red blood cells (and B antibody in plasma)
B: only has B antigen on red blood cells (and A antibody in plasma)
AB: has A and B antigens on red blood cells (but does not have A or B antibodies in the plasma)
O: does not have A and B antigens on red blood cells (but has A and B antibodies in the plasma)

How important is it to know the type of blood?

Knowing your blood type is very important, especially if you are going to have a transfusion or blood donation. The reason is, patients who receive blood with an incompatible group often experience dangerous reactions.

If blood type A provides blood to a patient with blood type B, the body will trigger an immune response to destroy foreign substances it deems incompatible with the body.

Generally, people with blood type O negative can donate blood to all blood types, because this blood type does not have antibodies that can trigger a reaction. That is why, group O is often referred to as the universal donor. However, people with blood type O can only receive transfusions from people with blood type O as well.

Meanwhile, type AB is often referred to as a universal recipient (recipient) because people with this blood type can get blood transfusions from group A, B, AB, or O. However, this blood type can only donate blood to people with the same blood type. .

Even though type O blood is called the universal donor and type AB blood is the universal recipient, blood donation and blood transfusion are still recommended to the same blood type. People with blood type O can donate to any blood type only in an emergency, as well as type AB blood who can accept donors of any blood type only in an emergency.

Apart from the A and B antigens, there is also a third antigen called the Rh (rhesus) factor which can be present (+) or absent (-). You may be more familiar with rhesus positive or negative.

You also need to know what rhesus you have before the transfusion or donor. This Rh factor is not related to your general health. This difference occurs due to genetic factors. Even so, this is also important to pay attention to when you want a blood transfusion.

What effect does the parent's blood type have on the child's blood type?

Like eye color and hair type, blood types are also passed on genetically from parents. Therefore, the blood type of the parents will determine the blood type of the child as well.

However, the blood type of children is not always the same as their parents. Because various combinations of blood types can produce different types.

If you are confused, here are the blood types your child might have.

If you and your partner's blood type you're welcome AB, your child will probably belong to a class A, B, or AB.
If your blood type AB and partner B, your child will probably belong to a group A, B, or AB.
If your blood type AB and partner A, your child will probably belong to a group A, B, or AB.
If your blood AB and partner O, your child will probably belong to a class A or B.
If you and your partner's blood type you are welcome B, your child will probably belong to a group O or B.
If your blood type A and partner B, your child will probably belong to a group O, A, B, or AB.
If you and your partner's blood type you're welcome, your child will probably belong to a class O or A.
If your blood type O and partner B, your child will probably belong to a group O or B.
If your blood type O and partner A, your child will probably belong to a group O or A.
If you and your partner's blood type you're welcome O, your child will have a group O.

What is the risk of disease according to blood type?

As explained above, your blood type is determined by the substances in your blood. However, do you know if these substances can interact with the immune system which can affect your risk of developing certain diseases in the future?

So, whether it's blood type A, B, AB, or O, you may be more susceptible or immune to certain health problems, such as heart disease, cancer, or other diseases. This is based on several new studies that have found an association of a number of diseases with certain blood types.

Although further research is still needed, knowing the potential risks early will really help you prevent various kinds of diseases later.

Here are some risk of disease based on blood type.

A blood type

Those of you who have this type of blood have a 20% higher risk of developing stomach cancer than people with blood type B or O. This research is based on Gustaf Edgren MD, PHD, an epidemiologist at Karolinska University Hospital Sweden.

According to him, people with blood types A and AB have a more sensitive immune system reaction to bacteria H. pylori, namely bacteria that cause stomach cancer.

You can reduce the risk of this disease by limiting the consumption of processed meats rich in nitrates such as sausages, corned beef, nuggets, and so on. Not only that, people who have this blood type are also at a higher risk of heart disease compared to group A.

Blood type B

People with blood type B are more at risk of developing the following diseases:

Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart disease

If you have blood type B, you can prevent your risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Begin to improve your diet and increase physical activity.

Blood type AB

According to long-term research conducted by experts from the University of Vermont, people with blood type AB are more at risk of cognitive impairment than others.

Regular exercise and eating lots of foods that are good for the brain are the main ways to prevent it.

Exercise and doing lots of physical activity can improve circulation and bring more oxygen to the brain. In addition, do activities that stimulate your brain to keep working and thinking, such as learning foreign languages, playing crossword puzzles, and reading difficult books.

Blood type O

According to a study conducted by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, type O blood has a 23% lower risk of developing heart disease compared to other blood types. Unfortunately, owners of this blood type are more susceptible to gastric disease caused by bacteria H. pylori.

To prevent this risk, always pay attention to your food intake. Don't forget to balance it with the implementation of a healthy life as a whole, such as quitting smoking, limiting drinking alcohol, and controlling weight.

The relationship between blood type and the risk of disease has been found by several studies in various parts of the world. However, most studies have failed to conclude what causes blood types to have a high risk of developing certain diseases.