5 New Things Your Blood Type Says About You

There's a lot your blood can say about you . . . and a lot it can't. Search the web, and you'll dig up articles tying one of the four major blood types (A, B, AB, O) to everything from diet dos and don'ts to partner compatibility. But there's just not a lot of research to back up those claims.

On the other hand, some solid research has linked different blood types to higher rates of certain diseases. And there are other, subtler ways your blood may affect your life:

1. Your Allure for Mosquitoes

People with blood type O may be up to twice as likely to attract certain species of mosquitoes than people with other blood types, finds a study from Japan's Institute of Pest Control Technology. But it's not all bad news for O's: Other research shows you're less likely to suffer from the deadliest forms of malaria—a disease transmitted by mosquitoes—possibly because deadly malarial proteins don't stick to type O blood cells the way they do to other types. 

2. The Type Of Bacteria in Your Gut

People can't stop talking about probiotics, gut microbes, and the many ways the bacteria living in your digestive system may influence your health. A few years ago, European researchers found the species of bacteria in people's intestines tend to break down into three distinct categories. The researchers hypothesized—but didn't prove—that this might be based on a person's blood type. Since then, a separate team from Finland found correlations between blood types and specific strains of gut bacteria. The implications of this are pretty huge; if a doctor could predict what strains of bacteria inhabit your gut based on your blood type, she could potentially make more accurate diet and treatment recommendations—though the Finnish study authors are quick to say lots of follow-up research is needed. 

3. Your Risk for Alcoholism 

Several older studies—we’re talking 1970s and '80s—found weak associations between blood type A and higher rates of alcoholism. More research has linked specific blood components called antigens to the disease. These studies suggest type A antigens may alter your immune system's reaction to alcohol in ways that affect intoxication. Also, genetic factors make up about 50% of your risk for alcoholism, according to the National Institutes of Health. All of this suggests biology plays a role in your risk, though specifics are murky.

4. Your Struggle with Stress

Studies have tied elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol to everything from rapid aging to junk food cravings. Long-term elevations in your body's cortisol levels—the type of elevation linked to chronic stress—may be particularly harmful, research suggests. That may be bad news for type O's. A study from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that O's cortisol levels may remain elevated longer than other blood types following a stressful event.

5. Your Persistent (uh, maybe even obsessive?) Tendencies

People with blood type A may be more likely to have obsessive-compulsive disorders and behaviors, according to a study in the journalNeuropsychobiology. While some follow-up research failed to find a correlation between OCD behaviors and specific blood types, a new study from Japanese researchers did find a correlation between blood type A and "persistence," which the authors define as "industriousness, diligence, and stability despite frustration and fatigue."

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How to Avoid Heat Stroke

You should be exercising to torch the competition, not spontaneously combust. Tell that to the approximately 4,300 men who show up at emergency rooms each year with heat-related maladies. An athlete who’s too focused on chasing personal records may not listen to his body’s internal signals to slow down, says Col. Francis O’Connor, M.D., a professor of military and emergency medicine at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. 

As you exercise, your muscles generate metabolic heat that ramps up your core temperature. The trouble starts when you can’t cool down properly because of other factors—like intense activity, hot and humid weather, lack of proper hydration, or wearing the wrong gear. Once your temp reaches the 103° to 105°F range, you may experience headache, dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness, or extreme fatigue. Keep pushing, and you might suffer exertional heatstroke (i.e., you’ll become feverish and collapse), which could be life-threatening. 

Heat stroke can e fatal

Before you end up in the ER, use these three strategies for keeping your cool at all times. 

Cool Down Your Insides

Maintaining a lower core temperature will mean less fatigue. That’s way more fun to do than you might think. According to a study in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, athletes who ate ice slushies during exercise were able to run comfortably for up to 15 minutes longer than those who drank cold water. 

Try this recipe from endurance coach and exercise physiologist Matt Dixon of PurplePatch Fitness: Blend enough ice to fill an insulated sports bottle, and pour any sports drink over it. On long runs, create a loop that’ll allow you to circle back to your bottle at intervals, says Douglas Casa, Ph.D., a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut. And drink water too. You may need to consume 1 to 2 quarts of fluid per hour, he says. 

These will certainly cool you down 

Switch Your Shirt

Even if you’re rocking the latest breathable, water-wicking performance fabric, at some point your shirt will become so saturated that it’ll trap your body heat instead of helping you vent it. Remember: It isn’t the sweat that cools your body; it’s the evaporation of those beads off your skin. Once the garment feels heavy, it’s time to switch it out. “This will enhance the evaporation of sweat, improving your heat tolerance and your cooling response,” Casa says. 

Change your cloth to enhance the evaporation of sweat

Chill Completely

If you’re burning up, it’s time for a primitive protocol: cold-water immersion. Fill a kiddie pool with several bags of ice and get in. Frigid water will lower your core temperature about 1 degree every five minutes, Casa says. At hot races, staff may have such tubs set up at the medical tent at the finish. If you’re in a remote area, pack a cooler with ice and water in the back of your car to dunk your arms and legs in. Feeling frosty is better than being out cold.

Have some cooling juice when you can

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The Scary Thing Your Hiccups Could Mean

So you gulped down your food a little too fast. Those hiccups are pretty annoying, maybe a little embarrassing, but hey, we're not judging. They're also usually harmless.

Think again, Hiccups may also be a sign you're having a stroke.

Before you freak out: We're not talking about those same beer-chugging hiccups, but a painful, unrelenting, severe case of the hiccups that comes on out of nowhere, says neurologist Diana Greene-Chandos, MD, director of neuroscience critical care at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. These are hiccups so bad you just might bring yourself to the emergency room.

A Sign of Stroke

When they truly are a sign of a stroke, if you're paying really close attention to your body, you might also notice chest pain, all-over numbness, or a bit of blurred vision, but, Greene-Chandos says, the hiccups are often so severe, those other symptoms fly under the radar.

Crazy, right? In fact, no one really knows about this whole hiccup thing. Greene-Chandos's team recently polled 1,000 women and found just 10% knew hiccups can be a sign of stroke. 

That's bad news, especially since doctors probably aren't in the know, either. When a woman shows up at the ER with uncontrollable hiccups and feels a little tingly, most hospital staffers don't immediately think "stroke," Greene-Chandos says. But every minute counts: Clot-busting meds work best when they're administered within 3 hours. The sooner a woman (and her doctors!) can identify these female-specific signs, the better outcome she's likely to have. Currently, stroke is the number 5 cause of death in the U.S., according to the CDC, killing nearly 130,000 Americans each year.

Speaking of every minute counting: You've probably heard of F.A.S.T. as it applies to stroke symptoms. Quick refresher: It stands for face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty (the most common signs someone's having a stroke), time to call 911—and it definitely still applies to women. Today, commit a few others to memory: hiccups, chest pain, whole-body numbness, and headaches, a set of women-only symptoms for which there isn't a handy acronym—yet.

Hiccups are associated with a type of stroke that occurs in the back of the brain as opposed to the top, a type that is indeed more common in women. "That probably has something to do with the hiccup component and how the strokes manifest themselves differently," Greene-Chandos says, but we don't entirely know what's going on.

That doesn't mean hiccups shouldn't be on your radar, though. Sure, it could be terrible indigestion, she says, but tune in to what your body is telling you. If you notice some numbness, chest pain, or blurry vision along with those hiccups, don't brush them off. Women are all too likely to ignore signs of a stroke. "Women don't think of it as a disease that involves them," Greene-Chandos says. But actually, 60% of deaths from stroke happen among women, she says. "All my friends can tell you all about breast cancer, and it claims nowhere near as many lives."

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Somethings You Don't Know About Mosquitoes

Does wearing perfume attract mosquitoes? How about scarfing sweets? As the mosquito population continues to soar—threatening to ruin your hike, camping trip, or poolside cocktails—myths about the little buggers abound. One thing’s for sure: Mosquitoes carrying viral diseases, including West Nile virus, malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya, are more widespread than ever, and are poised to keep spreading, according to recent findings from Oxford University.

Getting your story straight is the first step toward staying safe (and picnicking in peace). Separate fact from fiction with the help of entomologist Joseph Conlon, technical advisor at the American Mosquito Control Association. 

True or False: All mosquitoes will bite you.

False. It’s only the female mosquito that bites, because she needs blood for protein and energy to produce eggs. Males feed on flower nectar. Then there are mosquitoes that don’t bite humans at all—they feed primarily on reptiles or birds and other mammals. Unfortunately, it’s just about impossible to ID the gender of a mosquito when it’s buzzing around your ear, and the ones that don’t bite humans have no easily identifiable traits, so go ahead and swat liberally.

True or False: Mosquitoes are attracted to perfume.

True. Mosquitoes do feed on flower nectar for their sugar nutrients, Conlon says, so it’s possible that wearing predominantly floral perfumes could put you at greater risk of being bitten. However, the mosquitoes that bite people are seeking a blood meal, so the aromas of rose, lavender, gardenia and other nectar-bearing blooms are unlikely to be a lure. If you choose to forego a floral fragrance, you’re probably still safe to spritz on other scents, such as sandalwood, patchouli, star anise, and cinnamon. 

True or False: Mosquitoes are more drawn to people who eat sweets.

False. It’s true that some people are inherently more attractive to mosquitoes than others , so you might assume that their blood is somehow tastier. But in fact, it’s more about how they smell, which is set by their DNA rather than by their dinner menu. “Attraction is determined by the whole panoply of odors someone exudes rather than one single factor,” Conlon says. “Just as dogs detect individual scents, so can mosquitoes.” The bugs are drawn to smells emanating from skin, warmth, moisture, lactic acid, carbon dioxide, and possibly other factors that are yet to be identified.

True or False: Mosquitoes Prefer Certain Blood types.

True. Studies show that mosquitoes like to feast on Type O blood, but only the portion of O’s who are “secretors,” meaning their bodies infuse blood-type-specific molecules into their saliva, sweat and mucus. Some 80% of the general population, across all blood types, are secretors, but mosquitoes seem to gravitate towards those O secretors in particular. 

True or False: Pregnancy Ups Your Chances of Getting Devoured.

True. A study published in 2000 found that mosquitoes tend to bite expectant moms more. You might think it’s because blood volume increases some 30 to 50% during pregnancy, but it’s more likely that you’re simply producing more heat and carbon dioxide, Conlon explains, which are key bait for mosquitoes. That’s also why mosquitoes are drawn to bigger people—because they give off more body heat, breathe out more carbon dioxide, and have more body to bite.

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Why You Have Bad Breath—and How to Get Rid of It

Bad breath stinks, but what can you actually do about it? Chew some gum? Suck on a mint? These strategies offer some benefit, but they’re short lasting.  And brushing your teeth? Very important, but not that effective as a treatment by itself, according to a scientific review by researchers in Brazil. 

Bad breath stinks

You need a Complete Strategy. 

So let’s start with the root cause of bad breath: volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). While they sound more like fumes you’d emit from your butt than your mouth, scientists say these substrates are what typically lead to halitosis. 

Smell your breath

Volatile sulfur compounds are thought to arise from the interaction of oral bacteria that occurs in conditions like gum disease and infections, and within pockets and crevices of your teeth. 

Decaying tooth

But your tongue is the real problem, according to a report in theJournal of Clinical Periodontology. Turns out, its large surface area—with all the tiny cracks and grooves—allow it to harbor lots of the microorganisms that lead to volatile sulfur compounds.

In fact, in separate studies, scientists in Japan found that “tongue coating” had the greatest impact on producing volatile sulfur compounds in people’s mouths. This would also help explain why your breath is most likely to stink in the morning, since the compounds build up over night. 

Smoking can give a really bad breath

1. Clean Your Tongue. 

This helps disturb and remove the bacteria that create volatile sulfur compounds, and leads to a reduction in their odor. You can do this by literally brushing your tongue, but an even better approach is to scrape your tongue from back to front with a plastic tongue scraper. 

Man, your really need a tongue scraper

When you brush your tongue with a little toothbrush, you might just be moving smelly bacteria around to different places on your tongue. But the larger surface area and flat design of a tongue scraper allow it to carry more bacteria out of your mouth when you scrape it forward, says Denis Kinane, B.D.S., Ph.D., the dean of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Look at those nasty stinky things

According to a Cochrane review of scientific literature, people who use a tongue scraper reduce volatile sulfur compounds by 42 percent, compared to 33 percent in those who brush their tongue. Plus, the effects of the tongue scraping last longer. 

A Strep Throat can cause bad breath as well

2. Brush and Floss Twice a Day. 

This isn’t a surprise, of course. You’ll remove tiny food particles and microorganisms that can lead to those volatile sulfur compounds. If you don’t floss, try it and then give the floss a sniff. Smell nasty? You’ve probably uncovered a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria—and hopefully gained motivation to start flossing regularly. Keep in mind that gingivitis and periodontitis can lead to volatile sulfur compounds and bad breath, so regular dental checkups are a must. 

Protect your teeth

3. Keep your Mouth Well-Hydrated. 

When you experience “dry mouth,” dead cells on your tongue, gums, and cheeks might build up. Without enough saliva to wash them away, bacteria will begin to feed off the dead cells and multiply. This produces a bunch of sulfur-related molecules that trigger bad breath, Dr. Kinane says.

Drink more water

If you frequently feel like your mouth is dry, try an over-the-counter rinse like Biotene, which has been shown to help with dry mouth. If your breath really reeks and you don’t have a rinse around, simply swish your mouth out with plain water. The rinsing action will physically remove some of the stinky bacteria, says Dr. Kinane.

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4 Things Your Period Says About You

Periods are like snowflakes—you'll never find two exactly alike. Some women have heavy and short periods, some light and long, and others sometimes skip a month. Most of what we know about our menstrual cycles seems to be an average of all our unique flows. 

While your period may not follow the average flow—as very few do—it should be close. If you're noticing periods that fall to the extreme, like really heavy periods or no periods at all, you should check in with a doctor. Here, 4 things your period could be telling you: 

No Periods

Could be a sign of: Polycystic ovary syndrome, low body fat, thyroid dysfunction, stress

The most common causes of missed periods are obvious: pregnancy or menopause. But if you're too young for menopause and can't possibly be pregnant, missed periods could mean you have problems with your thyroid, have a hormonal imbalance that causes cysts to grow on your ovaries, or are just way too stressed. Another possible cause: your weight. "Someone who is underweight for her height can have no periods because there isn't enough fat on her body," says Rima Mehta, MD, director of gynecology at Pennsylvania Hospital. "Women who are athletes or run 3 to 5 miles a day are sometimes too lean to have a normal period, and my recommendation to them is simple: 'You need a couple of sandwiches.' "

Consult a doctor when: You've been without a period for 3 to 6 months. 

Painful Periods 

Could be a sign of: Endometriosis, fibroids, vaginal scarring

It's no secret that periods are painful. Every month your uterine muscles contract and release to push blood out—and those contractions mean just about everyone will feel some pain. It's only a problem, according to Mehta, when common medications like ibuprofen or Midol don't help and if you regularly avoid going out with friends or even miss work because of the pain. One of the most common causes of life-interruptingly painful periods, according to Mehta, is endometriosis, a condition that causes the tissue you shed with each period to grow outside your uterus in places like your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and lower abdomen. Endometrial tissue that grows outside your uterus still breaks down and bleeds during each menstrual cycle, but because it has no way out of your body, the tissue builds up and can cause pelvic pain. Although there is no cure for endometriosis, surgery or pelvic floor physical therapy has helped many women manage the discomfort. Scarring from previous surgeries or structural abnormalities in your uterus—usually caused by noncancerous tumors called fibroids—can also make periods painful. In both cases, doctors recommend minimally invasive surgery to remove fibroids and scar tissue.

Consult a doctor when: You've had painful periods for 3 months and can't get relief from over-the-counter pain relievers.

Heavy Periods 

Could be a sign of: Fibroids, hemophilia, hormone imbalance, blood thinners

For most women, a period starts out heavy and then tapers off toward the end of the cycle. But "heavy" means you have to change your pad every couple of hours. If you find yourself changing your pad or tampon more than once an hour or if you have a steady flow for more than 7 days, your period crosses the line from "heavy" to "abnormally heavy." And if you're constantly on edge about whether you'll bleed through your pad and end up with an embarrassing bloodstain on your pants, it's considered "extremely heavy," according to Aaron K. Styer, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center and Harvard Medical School. If every period causes you this stress, it could mean you have either too much or too little of one of the hormones that regulate menstruation—estrogen and progesterone—or that you have fibroids (yep, those again). Abnormally heavy periods are also sometimes a side effect of nonhormonal birth control methods like intrauterine devices (IUDs). They can also be a sign of uterine cancer, though that's rare, Styer says.

 

Consult a doctor when: You're changing multiple pads or tampons every hour, regularly bleeding through your clothes, avoiding spending time with friends or going to work, or getting dizzy, weak, or short of breath.

Infrequent Periods 

Could be a sign of: Fibroids, hormonal imbalance, polyps

Aunt Flo doesn't always visit every 28 days. A normal menstrual cycle is anywhere from 21 to 35 days from the start of your period to the start of your next period. It's absolutely normal for women to have as few as nine periods a year, Styer says. Anything fewer than that could indicate you need to see a doctor. If you've noticed a sudden change in your menses, don't worry too much. Even women whose periods come like clockwork will likely miss a month or two at some point, and your period changes as you age, so a "normal" period for you could be something completely different at 40 than it was at 30. Hormone imbalances and fibroids again top the list of reasons periods can be few and far between, but polyps—benign growths on the inner wall of your uterus—can also be to blame. To treat polyps, your doctor might prescribe medications that regulate your hormones and lessen the symptoms, or might remove them through minimally invasive surgery.

Consult a doctor when: You have eight or fewer periods per year, or if your cycle was always regular but you've had no period for 3 months.

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The Best Migraine Remedy For You

Medication is a proven way to treat — and prevent — migraines. But medication is only part of the story. It's also important to take good care of yourself and understand how to cope with migraine pain when it strikes.

The same lifestyle choices that promote good health can also reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines. In fact, knowing how to manage migraine pain with lifestyle and behavioral measures, as well as medication, can often be the most effective way to handle migraines. Lets see what is the best migraine remedy for you:

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