Knowing your blood group can potentially save your life in emergencies. Some experts also say it can help manage long-term health issues, especially cancer.
A 2015 study found that only one of the four blood groups was linked to a lower risk of certain types of cancer. But which one?
Finding Out Your Blood Type
It’s important to know that NHS staff won’t usually tell you your blood type on their own. Most people find out their blood group when being treated for a specific health problem.
There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Each of these can be either positive or negative, depending on whether your blood has the Rh protein. So, you could be A-positive, B-negative, etc.
Which Blood Group Is Linked to a Lower Cancer Risk?
In recent decades, studies have tried to see if blood groups affect the risk of getting certain diseases.
It’s reported that people with type O blood have a lower risk of a certain heart disease, maybe because other blood groups have certain clotting factors from solidifying proteins.
Bad news for types A, B, and AB. These blood groups are closely related to a higher risk of stomach cancer. The 2015 study showed that type O blood has a lower risk of stomach cancer, though there’s no clear link between blood groups and cancer mortality rates.
The same pattern is seen in pancreatic cancer. Types A, B, and AB have a higher risk, while type O has a lower risk of various colorectal cancers.
Dr Sanjay Aggarwal, a doctor in Delhi, said: “Based on the research on bacterial infection, it’s more accurate to say people with type O blood have a lower risk of pancreatic cancer.”