What we do know about blood is that it is the most important fluid in our body that keeps us alive. It consists of blood cells and plasma and transports oxygen and nutrients to the cells and all the parts of the body. Without blood, we won’t be able to receive oxygen, which will lead to death.
However, there are so many other interesting facts about the human blood that we can’t wrap around heads around it. When it comes to it, even science doesn’t have all the answers or explanations. Below you can read many amazing facts about the blood that you may have never heard of.
1. Blood isn’t just red
Just like humans, most animals also have red blood. But there are some animal species such as octopus and squid that have blue blood. Other animals bleed greed, while some marine worms and brachiopods have purple blood.
2. There are more heart attacks on Mondays
Heart attacks are more common to happen on Mondays, while the second peak is on Fridays. According to research, the stress of returning to work has something to do with stress hormones being released at the beginning of a week.
3. Physicians made attempts to transfuse blood since the 17th century
However, all the patients mysteriously died until blood types were found in the 19th century by an Austrian physician Karl Landsteiner.
4. There is a theory that our blood type determines our personality
In Japanese culture, there is a prevalent belief that blood type is an indicator of our personality traits. They put so much importance on it that it may drive potential partners away or even determine whether you land a job or not.
5. Blood type O – the most common blood type
Having had hunters as their ancestors, blood type O people can digest meat easier than other blood types. They are believed to be self-confident and are seen as natural leaders. Besides, it is more common for blood type O people to develop obesity and skin cancer.
6. Blood type B
The Japanese see them as creative and expressive with their emotions and opinions. When it comes to health matters, they are more susceptible to pancreatic cancer and diabetes.
7. Blood type A
Blood type A people are more prone to cholesterol and cardiovascular problems. In Japan, they are favored in the workplace because of their punctuality, great attention to detail, and ability to research.
8. Blood type AB
People with this blood type have a higher risk of cognitive impairment. They are believed to be unpredictable because they are a mixture of temperaments.
9. Our blood contains pure gold!
Human blood contains a lot of elements, including iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and there are also small amounts of gold. The average human body contains about 0.2 mg. of gold, and most of it is concentrated in the blood.
10. Exposure to the sun may reduce blood pressure
Scientists believe that exposure to the sun may reduce heart pressure, which is associated with developing stroke or heart disease. They discovered that nitric oxide helps to regulate blood pressure by reducing blood vessel tone, and UV rays cause levels of nitric oxide to rise in the blood.
11. Older people are more prone to stroke because of capillaries
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels that serve in connecting arteries and venules. In the brain, they clear cholesterol, and blood clots. Because capillaries recede with age, there is a higher risk of older people to develop strokes.
12. Humans can live without a pulse
In 2012, a device was installed on a heart patient that allowed blood to circulate through his body without a pulse. The patient, Stan Larkin, had his entire heart replaced with an artificial heart that enabled him to function normally within days of the installation. He carried it around in a backpack for 555 days until he received full heart transplantation.