Knowing your blood type is important for multiple reasons. For example, if you need a blood transfusion, you have to know from whom you can accept blood from. The same principle applies if you want to donate blood too. There are four blood types and they are all named by sugar chains known as antigens that can be found on the red blood cells.
Having the A positive blood type (also described as A+) means that a person has antigens of type A. The sign + is determined by the presence of rhesus protein known as Rh factor. And if the Rh factor is not present, it means that we no longer talk about the A+ blood type.
A Positive Blood Type Facts
1. A positive blood type is the second most common blood type in the world.
As the second most common blood type, A+ can be found in thirty-four out of every hundred people on the planet. Other statistics claim that A positive blood type can be found in one out of 3 persons. Generally speaking, this means that around 36% of the total human population has an A+ blood type. Although the numbers are high, in terms of ethnicity, proportions of those who share this blood type are not the same. For example, in Africa, only 24% of people have A+, in Hispanic countries that number is higher (29%), while in Asia we have 27% of people who have A positive blood type.
2. A+ patterns of inheritance
The gene known as ABO is found on chromosome 9, and it is used to establish the group system of the blood. In this gene, A and B have a co-dominant relationship. Note that people who have A group have An antigen in their blood and B antibody in their plasma while for B group is vice versa. There is a certain pattern that blood groups follow, and it is used to determine the further path of the blood group. The patterns are as follows:
An interesting fact about A+ blood type is that a child will have A blood group or O blood group if its parents have A and O groups. But if the child has an A or B blood group, it means that one of its parents has O and the other has an AB group. On the other hand, if both parents have A group, the child will have either an A or O blood group. If one of the parents has A group and the other has a B group, the child will inherit A, B, O or AB group. However, the child will have A, B or AB if its parents have A and AB, blood groups. And finally, if both of the parents have an AB blood group, the child will have A, B or AB group.
3. Compatibility for receiving: A+ can receive blood only from: A+, A-, O+, and O-
The reason why a person that has A positive blood type can receive blood only from certain blood groups is that A+ has antigen A on red cells. People with this antigen in the blood can receive blood from people who have the same antigen (in this case A+ and A- blood types), and they can receive blood from the universal O group (both positive and negative). All other transfusions, like for example receiving blood from B group, can end up triggering the immune system and have serious consequences.
4. Compatibility for giving: A+ can give blood only to people who have A+ and AB+ blood groups
Although it can receive blood from both A and B blood types regardless of their + or – sign, a person who has A positive blood type is a compatible donor only to those who have Rh factor present in their blood along with an A antigen. This interesting A positive blood type facts limit the number of those who can receive blood from A+ donor and leaves those who have A+ and AB+ blood type. Note that blood can be given again after 56 days.
5. Compatibility for plasma type: receive from A and AB, donate to O and A
Since A is a blood group that doesn’t have A antibodies, it can receive plasma from A and AB blood groups. On the other hand, as a donor, a person with A blood group can only give plasma to those who have either A or O. Note that the same person can donate plasma again after 28 days.
6. A+, a presence of Rh Factor
We have already mentioned the Rh Factor. It can be defined as one of the additional markers found in blood, and it can be positive or negative. The main purpose of the Rh factor is to determine differences within genes. When it comes to A positive blood type, it has an Rh-positive factor.
7. Disease Sensitivity
An interesting fact about A positive blood is that it is assumed that people who have A+ blood type have increased the risk from specific diseases such as diabetes, different cardiovascular diseases, all sorts of allergies, and so on. This is why it is highly recommended to keep track of these conditions and be extra mindful of them. Different strategies can be used for the prevention and achievement of overall health.
8. Personality traits
It is believed that people of different blood types have certain personality traits. This belief originated in Japan, and soon enough it became popular all over the world. When it comes to people with A positive blood type, they are described as good listeners, as creative persons, analytical and intuitive individuals, and people who are empathetic and sensitive towards the need of others.
Conclusion
One of many things that can contribute to the health of an individual is to know the perks of its blood type. For example, it will be useful for a person with A+ blood type to know that they should use a plant-based diet rather than a low-carb diet if they are dealing with weight. Or to know that those with this blood type usually have a high level of cortisol which means that they are not good at handling stress. These are some of the many perks of knowing facts about your blood, so if you are not sure about your own blood type, you should ask your doctor to test it. As you can see, there is more than one benefit from that information.
I hope that this article on A+ Blood Types facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Health Facts Page!