Human blood was first classified into 4 well-known types in the first decade of the 1900s by Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian physician. It’s no secret that it’s important to know one’s blood type for emergency situations, as a blood match is crucial for safe transfusions. It turns out, however, that blood characteristics can also influence our health, and, as some people believe, our fortune and personality as well.
1. How are blood types determined?
Blood types, or blood groups, are classified according to the presence or absence of certain antigens that can trigger an immune response when they are foreign to the body. These antigens can make the immune system of the patient attack the transfused blood. This is why it is so important to know your blood type and to be aware of the safe matches for blood transfusions.