Are YOU blood type A? You’re at risk of a heart attack
- Dutch experts analysed a range of scientific studies involving 1.3 million people
- They found that 14 in 1,000 people with blood group O suffered a heart attack
- While the figure was 15, in 1,000 for those who fell into a different blood group
- The findings are worrying, as people are unable to do anything about their type
Stephen Matthews For Mailonline
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People with A, B or AB blood types are slightly more likely to have a heart attack, scientists warn.
They are believed to have higher levels of a clotting protein – which can stop blood from reaching the vital organ.
The findings are worrying, considering people are unable to do anything about their blood group as it is based purely on genetics.
But experts say giving up smoking and eating healthier are still the best ways to reduce the risk of a deadly heart attack.
People with A, B or AB blood type are believed to have higher levels of a clotting protein – which can stop blood from reaching the heart
Dutch researchers analysed a range of scientific studies involving 1.3 million people, the BBC reports.
They found that 14 in 1,000 people with blood group O – the most common type in Britain – suffered a heart attack.
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While the findings were slightly increased, 15 in 1,000, for those who fell into a different group, such as A, B or AB.
Similar results were found when they looked at cardiovascular events, with those who have a non-O type 0.2 per cent more likely to have one.
The findings are worrying, considering people are unable to do anything about their blood group as it is based purely on genetics (stock)
WHAT ARE BLOOD GROUPS?
Blood groups are differentiated by the combination of sugars and proteins that coat someone’s red blood cells.
Based on this, someone can be classified into one of four main groups: A, B, AB and O.
Around 44 per cent of Britons are type O, 42 per cent are type A, 10 per cent type B and 4 per cent AB.
However, there were no differences found when assessing fatal heart events, the researchers said at the European Society of Cardiology congress.
Lead author Tessa Kole, of the University Medical Center in Groningen, said more studies are needed to work out why people are at a higher risk of heart attacks based on their blood group.
She added: ‘In future, blood group should be considered in risk assessment for cardiovascular prevention, together with cholesterol, age, sex and systolic blood pressure.’
This comes after scientists found a way to identify a patient’s blood type in a matter of seconds with 99.9 per cent accuracy.
Current methods to determine whether someone in a life-threatening situation is an A, B, AB or O are slow and technically demanding.
But the new paper-based test can be performed without the need for specialist equipment, Chinese researchers claimed in March.
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