PARENTS -BEFORE 60 AGE- STROKES : HEALTH MASTER ESSAY

Blood type may be linked to the risk of stroke before age 60.

''Researchers are reporting that people with type A blood have the highest risk of stroke before 60 while people with type O have the lowest.

''Experts say there are lifestyle changes people can make to lower their overall risk of stroke. These include stopping smoking, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, and exercising regularly.

''They note there are other factors such as age and genetics that can't be mitigated. Your blood type might increase your risk for a stroke before age 60.

Researchers are reporting that, in fact, that a person with blood type A may be more likely to have an early-onse stroke while a person with type O is less likely to have one.

In their study published today, researchers did a meta-analysis of 48 studies involving almost 17,000 people with a stroke and more than 570,000 people with no history of stroke.

The scientists examined the possible correlation between blood type and ischemic stroke risk. They report that people with blood type A had the highest risk for early onset stroke, which occurs before age 60.

The researchers divided participants by blood type and compared this with stroke status; early stroke, late stroke, and no stroke. Some of the results included :

''People with early stroke were more likely to have blood Type A and less likely to have type O when compared to people who had a stroke at a later age or people who had not had a stroke.

''People with both early and late stroke were more likely to have Type B when compared to a control group.

After adjusting for sex and other factors, the researchers reported.

''People with Type A had an 18 percent higher risk of early stroke than those with different blood types.

People with type O had a 12 percent lower chance of having an early stroke than those with other blood types."

A direct link between blood type and stroke hasn't been established yet. In addition, only 35% of the study participants were not of European ancestry, so the findings may not be consistent across racial and ethnic groups.

Blood types in the United States 

The study included the blood types A, AB, B, and O.

The four main blood groups are determined by the presence or absence of antigens, proteins that can trigger an immune reaction on the surface of red blood cells, according to the American Red Cross.

''Type A - The A antigen is on red blood cells, and the B antibody is in the plasma

''Type B - The B antigen is on red blood cells, and the A antigen is in the plasma.

''Type AB - Both antigen types are on red blood cells, and neither is in the plasma.

''Type O - Neither antigen type is on red blood cells, and both are in the plasma.

Knowing a person's blood type is crucial during a blood transfusion because the body could reject the blood if the immune system is activated.

Braxton Mitchell, Ph.D., MPH, the lead study author and a professor of medicine at University of Maryland School of Medicine, says that people with the A blood type might be more likely to develop blood clots, which can lead to a stroke.

Ischemic Strokes

An ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. It occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked.

In 2020, nearly 3.5 million people worldwide died from an ischemic stroke, according to the American Heart Association Trusted Source.

''Strokes occur suddenly,'' Dr. Basit Rahim, a vascular neuro-critical care neurologist and Medical Director of Stroke at Providence Mission Hospital, told Healthline.

''They can happen at any time and they don't discriminate. Symptoms involving balance issues, vision problems [such as double or blurred vision], facial droop, arm weakness, or speech difficulty., should be evaluated immediately. There is a narrow window of time to which healthcare professionals can stop a stroke.''

 Women might also experience :

.- Face, arm, or leg pain.

.- Hiccups

.- Nausea

.- Chest pain

.- Palpitations

.- Shortness of breath.

The most common cause of an ischemic stroke is a blood clot that cuts off the blood flow to the brain.

Stroke risk factors

Some risk factors can be mitigated while others, including age, gender or genetics, can't be mitigated. [Agencies]