Changing lifestyles, irregular eating habits, physical inactivity and various environmental factors are driving up the risk of numerous diseases. Alongside heart disease, stroke remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Even those who survive a stroke are often left with long-term physical disability.
Doctors say high blood pressure, excess cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and being overweight or obese are major risk factors for stroke. Excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, chronic stress, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, and heart disease can also raise the risk. A family history of stroke can make a person comparatively more vulnerable as well.
A possible link between blood type and stroke has recently drawn fresh attention. A study published in the journal Neurology in 2022 found that people with the A1 subtype of blood type A face roughly a 16% higher risk of having a stroke before age 60 than others. The risk was found to be around 11% higher for people with type B blood. By contrast, the study found, people with the O1 subtype had a roughly 12% lower risk.
The study was large in scale. It analyzed data from 48 genetic studies conducted across various parts of the world, reviewing information on nearly 17,000 stroke patients and 600,000 healthy individuals. Participants were between 18 and 59 years old.
According to the study’s lead author, Dr Steven Kittner, a neurologist at the University of Maryland in the United States, the precise reason behind the link between type A blood and stroke risk is not yet definitively known. However, researchers believe factors such as blood-clotting processes, platelet activity, cells lining the blood vessels, and certain proteins may be involved.
A large share of study participants were of European descent, however, so researchers say further studies involving more diverse populations are needed to confirm whether the same relationship holds for other ethnic groups.
Experts advise against panicking over blood type. While blood type itself cannot be changed, the major risk factors for stroke can be controlled. Keeping blood pressure and diabetes under control, quitting smoking, exercising regularly, eating healthily, managing weight, getting enough sleep and limiting alcohol can all help reduce stroke risk.
Warning signs that call for immediate hospital care
One side of the face drooping; sudden weakness or numbness in one arm or leg; slurred speech or difficulty speaking; sudden vision loss; a sudden, severe headache; and sudden loss of balance.
If any of these symptoms appear, seeking emergency medical care without delay is essential.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report