You must know that a single blood type cannot be transfused to all patients. Patients have different blood groups; blood can only be given by compatible donors. But how will you know about the compatibility of blood types? Which blood groups are compatible? What will happen if an incompatible blood transfusion occurs? Here we will learn all about these queries, so keep reading.

What Do You Mean By Compatibility Of Blood Types?

In blood compatibility, we ensure the blood transfused to a patient matches the patient's blood group. There are four major blood groups, including A, B, AB, and O blood groups. These blood groups are further categorized as positive negative blood groups. Now, eight different variations of blood groups can exist among patients. 

You must have heard of many cases when blood is needed to be transfused in patients. It mostly happens during surgeries (accidental surgery, cesarean section, or other surgical incisions). During these conditions, there is always a need for the donor whose blood group must be compatible with the patient.

Blood compatibility tests are performed before blood transfusions. Transfusions are impossible if the donor's blood group is incompatible with the patient's. In this condition, there is a need for another donor with the required blood group.

Which Blood Groups Are Compatible?

Let’s categorize the blood groups according to their compatibilities.

A+ blood group: It contains type A antigens and a positive Rh factor. Patients with the A+ blood group can receive blood groups of A+, A-, O+, and O-. These compatibilities are because of the following reasons:

• A+ is totally compatible.
• A- is free of type A antibodies and does not contain Rh antibodies.
• O+ does not contain type A antibodies and Rh antibodies.
• O- also does not contain type A antibodies and Rh antibodies.

A- blood group: It contains type A antigens and is free of positive Rh factor. Patients with the A- blood group can receive groups of A-and O-. These compatibilities are because of the following reasons:

• A- is totally compatible.
• O- also does not contain type A antibodies and Rh antibodies

A+ is not compatible because exposure to a positive blood group in a negative blood group patient will develop the formation of Rh antibodies. This condition is also known as Rh incompatibility or Rh disease. The same goes for the O+ blood group; the Rh factor makes it incompatible with the A- patient.

B+ blood group: It contains type B antigens and a positive Rh factor. Patients with the B+ blood group can receive blood groups of B+, B-, O+, and O-. These compatibilities are because of the following reasons:

• B+ is totally compatible.
• B- is free of type B antibodies and does not contain Rh antibodies.
• O+ does not contain type A antibodies and Rh antibodies.
• O- also does not contain type A antibodies and Rh antibodies.

B- blood group: It contains type B antigens and is free of positive Rh factor. Patients with the B- blood group can receive B- and O- groups. These compatibilities are because of the following reasons:

• B- is totally compatible.
• O- also does not contain type B antibodies and Rh antibodies

The rest of the blood groups are not compatible because of the reasons we discussed above.

AB+ blood group: This group contains both type A and type B antigens and a positive Rh factor. AB+ blood group patients can receive blood from any blood group in the blood group system. It is because AB+ blood is free of type A and B antibodies. Also, there is no production of RH antibodies in this type of blood. Due to this reason, the AB+ blood group is also called a universal recipient.

AB- blood group: This group contains type A and type B antigens without a positive Rh factor. AB-blood group patients can receive blood from any negative blood group, including AB-, A-, B-, and O-. Transfusion of the positive blood group will produce RH antibodies in the patient’s body, further resulting in hemolysis.

O+ blood group: This group contains positive Rh factor but is free of type A and type B antigens. Patients with this blood group can receive blood from the donor of either O+ or O-. The other blood groups are incompatible because of type A and type B antibodies in O+ patients.

O- blood group: This group is free of type A, B, and Rh antigens. Patients with this blood group can receive blood from O- donors. The rest of the blood groups are incompatible because of type A, B, and Rh antibodies in O- patients. O- blood group can be transfused to any patient; therefore, it is also known as a universal donor.

What If Incompatible Blood Will Be Transfused?

Incompatible blood transfusion leads to a hemolytic reaction in the patient's body. Incompatible blood groups trigger the immune system and lead to the formation of antibodies against transfused blood. These antibodies then start destroying the donor’s blood cells. This condition can lead to fever, backache, tremors, and other severe side effects.

If you find this information trustworthy, health hub blogs on LabMe can help you learn more about these kinds of health and medical knowledge.

Conclusion

Now, you must have a complete understanding of ABO blood system compatibility. Every person must be aware of his/her blood group to ensure a compatible blood transfusion in emergencies. And remember, the real heroes are the donors with O- blood groups because they can donate blood to every patient and save their lives.

Thyroid disease is a general term that refers to the medical conditions which prevent the thyroid gland from producing the normal amount of hormones. It is a prevalent disorder affecting about 20 million people in the United States. Instead of the risk of chronic conditions associated with thyroid diseases, here we will discuss three interesting facts about thyroid diseases, as mentioned below.

• One out of every twenty people suffers from thyroid disease.
• Women are at more risk of developing thyroid diseases than men.
• The risk of thyroid disease increases if you are over 50 or have a family history of thyroid problems.

Why One In Every Twenty People Have Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid diseases are prevalent because of their commonly occurring causes. The reasons or conditions which can lead to thyroid disorders commonly exist among people. Patients who don’t seek medical attention for certain diseases increase the risk factors for thyroid disease. Here we mentioned the conditions associated with thyroid diseases, which can further help you understand the high occurrence ratio of thyroid diseases in a population.

Iodine Deficiency: If you are not taking an adequate amount of iodine in your diet, you are more at risk of developing goiter and hypothyroidism. Iodine is needed by the thyroid glands for the synthesis of hormones. A deficiency of iodine disturbs the thyroid metabolism and can result in thyroid enlargement and other related disorders.

Autoimmune diseases: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Grave’s disease are autoimmune diseases in which immune cells start attacking thyroid healthy cells. Another very common autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes, also increases the risk factor for thyroid disease. When one autoimmune disease already exists, there is a greater likelihood that another autoimmune disease will develop (damaging the thyroid glands).

Regular Intake Of Certain Medications: Some commonly consumed drugs, including antiarrhythmic, bipolar disease, cancer, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-thyroid medications (as given in case of hyperthyroidism), interfere with the normal functioning of the thyroid glands.

Pituitary Gland Disorders: The pituitary glands produce the thyroid stimulating hormone, which triggers the thyroid to release the hormones. Tumor in the pituitary gland result in excessive production of TSH, which further lead to hyperthyroidism.

These are the most common causes of thyroid diseases. Other conditions such as nodules, thyroiditis, excessive iodine intake, and infections can also lead to thyroid malfunctioning.

Why Are Women At More Risk Of Developing Thyroid Diseases Than Men?

According to a study, women are at 5 to 8 times more risk of developing thyroid diseases than men. Women are more likely to suffer from thyroid diseases because of the more fluctuation in the hormonal levels at different stages of life than men. The changes occurring in the female’s body during puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause increase her risk of thyroid malfunctioning.

• During puberty, the changes in the sex hormones adversely impact the thyroid hormones, which can lead to thyroid diseases.

• During pregnancy, there occurs a decrease in the thyroid-stimulating hormone for some duration (in the first trimester). It happens because of the increased level of βhCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and estrogen. There is also the chance of the thyroid gland increasing in size by 10 to 15 percent of its original size during pregnancy.

• Studies have shown that in women going through menopause, existing thyroid disease from the past can flare up again. Intake of birth control pills by females can also be a reason for thyroid diseases.

• Women are also at risk of thyroid diseases due to hormonal fluctuations caused by stress, insomnia, and anxiety.

Why Are You At More Risk Of Thyroid Disease If You Are Over 50 Or Have a Family History Of Thyroid Disease?

• Because of the increased risk of autoimmune disease with aging, people over 50 are more likely to develop thyroid diseases. Studies have also shown that the prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis increases as the person ages.

• Thyroid diseases are polygenetic. No specific gene has been identified which can be responsible for thyroid diseases, but anyone with a family history of thyroid disease is more likely to experience thyroid malfunction. Further, in about 75% of thyroid disease patients, a family history of thyroid disease has been observed.

Conclusion

Now, you must be aware of how prevalent thyroid diseases are and why women are at greater risk of suffering from thyroid diseases. If any thyroid disorder is left untreated, it can result in severe and chronic health ailments. Therefore, everyone must keep track of thyroid functioning. LabMe ensures your thyroid health by offering various at-home thyroid tests. The thyroid tests offered by LabMe can help you diagnose any existing thyroid dysfunction.

Most of us feel tired all the time without even doing much in a day. What is the reason behind it? In normal situations, strenuous physical or mental activities ultimately result in tiredness because, in the end, the body needs proper rest; it cannot work more than its capacity. But what if you don’t work hard in a day and still feel tired? There can be many reasons behind it, such as your daily routine, eating habits, sleep pattern, etc. Here we will discuss five common causes of feeling tired all the time in detail, so keep reading.

What Are The 5 Reasons For Feeling Tired All The Time?

The five common causes responsible for causing tiredness are mentioned below.

Low Iron Levels

Iron is needed by the body to produce hemoglobin in red blood cells. Haemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen to all cells of the body. Due to iron deficiency, the body cannot form a sufficient amount of hemoglobin. It decreases the blood's ability to supply proper oxygen to the body cells. Oxygen is needed by the cells to produce energy (by breaking down ATPs). Without oxygen, there will be no energy production which ultimately causes a person to feel tired and lethargic all day.

Diabetes

Diabetes cause tiredness in patients because of a number of reasons.

• Diabetes alters the body’s mechanism of regulating the blood sugar level. It also impacts how the body forms energy by using sugar. By causing a lack of energy, diabetes leads to tiredness in patients.

• Dehydration can occur because of diabetes because of the increased urination frequency. Dehydration can also be a potent reason for lethargy and tiredness in a person.

• Hormonal fluctuation due to diabetes can result in mood swings. It also changes the person's ability to accomplish daily tasks.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is needed by the cells to generate energy. It is also needed to maintain the strength of muscles and bones in the body. Its deficiency causes decreased energy production and weakens the muscles, ultimately making the person feel tired all day.

Thyroid Diseases

Thyroid hormones are directly involved in generating energy and maintaining the body’s metabolism. The disturbance in the production of thyroid hormones due to thyroid diseases will alter the body’s mechanism. It also negatively impacts the energy production of the cells, which further results in tiredness.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 is needed to produce red blood cells in the body. Its deficiency will impair the body’s ability to produce RBCs, thus altering the way the body transfer oxygen to the cells. Oxygen deficiency will result in energy deficiency. It leads to fatigue, weakness, and tiredness in the patients.

How To Diagnose The Tiredness-Causing Reasons In Your Body?

To find out any existing abnormality we discussed above which can be responsible for causing the tiredness, you must have to undergo some tests. Laboratory testing evaluating your blood sample can determine the deficiency of any component or organ malfunctioning in your body.

But you may need more time to visit the medical laboratory physically, give a sample there and then wait for the results. To sort out this issue, Labme offers you at-home testing. Through these at-home tests, you can evaluate any of the reasons causing tiredness without any hassle of physically visiting laboratories. 

Here’re given the at-home tests offered by LabMe, which can help you diagnose the existing cause of tiredness.

• At-Home Ferritin Test
• Executive At-Home Health Test
• At-Home Vitamin D Test
• At-Home Crucial Thyroid Test

Besides these tests, there are many other tests offered by LabMe, which can help you find out the deficiency of more than a single compound at a time. You can visit LabMe and find out the appropriate tests according to your need.

How To Get Rid Of Feeling Tired All The Time?

Once you find out why you feel tired all the time, you can consult your doctor. A doctor can guide you properly to treat the causes responsible for tiredness. If any chronic cause is responsible for causing tiredness, you have to undergo proper conventional treatment such as long-term pharmacotherapy will be followed. 

If there is an acute reason behind tiredness, you may treat it at home. For example, if iron deficiency is the cause, you can increase your iron intake by eating iron-rich food and taking iron supplements. Similarly, you can increase your sun exposure time for vitamin D deficiency, take a vitamin D enrich diet, and try vitamin D supplements.

Conclusion

Feeling tired all the time gives you a warning of some kind of malfunctioning in your body. You must undergo blood tests to find out what is causing your fatigue and weakness all the time. LabMe offers the easiest way to diagnose body abnormality by offering at-home tests. With an at-home test, you can find out what's keeping you from accomplishing your daily tasks.

Our body needs all micro and macronutrients in adequate amounts to ensure the body's healthy functioning. Each compound and mineral is of great importance for maintaining normal body physiology. A deficiency of even a single micronutrient adversely alters the body's ability to maintain homeostasis. You can take the example of iron deficiency, which can be a potent reason for causing anemia in patients. Calcium deficiency leads to bone weakness. Likewise, each nutrient deficiency is associated with a certain disorder in the body. Here, we’ll find out some common deficient nutrients among people, including:

• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D
• Calcium
• Magnesium

Let’s find out the effect of these deficiencies and how to recover from them in detail.

What Are The Effects Of Nutrient Deficiency On The Health?

Below are mentioned the health effects caused due to the deficiency of a certain nutrient in the body.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

It can occur if you are not getting enough vitamin B12 from your diet. Other causes for this deficiency include the body’s inability to absorb vitamin B12 and certain health conditions such as gastric bypass and gastric bypass. Excessive alcohol consumption can also be the reason.

A sufficient amount of vitamin B12 is needed to produce red blood cells and genetic material and maintain nerve function in the body. Its deficiency can lead to psychological, physical, and neurological dysfunction in the body. Patients with this deficiency can experience the mentioned symptoms below.

• Tiredness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, sour mouth, lack of appetite, and yellowish skin.

• Weak visual abilities, memory loss, loss of cognitive behavior, numbness in your hands and feet.

• Depression, stress, anxiety, and changes in social behavior can also occur.

Vitamin D Deficiency

It occurs when your body cannot receive an adequate amount of vitamin D due to any reason, such as a nutrient-deficient diet, less exposure to sunlight, and the inability of the body to absorb vitamin D properly. This nutrient is mainly needed for the body's growth and maintenance of the skeleton system (bones and muscles). 

Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium in the bones, thus strengthening the bones. It also plays an important role in maintaining immunity and neurological functions in the body. Patients with this deficiency can experience any of the below-mentioned symptoms.

• Rickets in children
• Muscle weakness
• Joint deformities
• Bone pain
• Fatigue
• Mood swings

Calcium Deficiency

It occurs when your blood calcium level becomes too low. Calcium is needed for the maintenance of bone and muscle growth and maintenance. Besides bone, blood also needs a sufficient amount of calcium for the healthy functioning of the nerves. It is also required to deal with bleeding by helping in blood clotting.

Besides a nutrient-deficient diet, several factors can be involved in calcium deficiency. Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone deficiency in the blood can lead to hypocalcemia. Vitamin D is needed for the absorption of calcium in the bones. Parathyroid hormone, or PTH, is responsible for regulating the calcium in the blood. Kidney malfunctioning can also lead to decreased calcium levels in the body. Patients with calcium deficiency can experience any of the below-mentioned symptoms.

• Muscular cramps, brittle skin, dry skin, and coarse hair.
• Memory loss, loss of cognitive behavior, hallucination, depression, and hallucination.

If this deficiency persists for longer, it can result in chronic and severe health disorders, including seizures, muscular spasms, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, and even cognitive heart failure.

Magnesium Deficiency

Although it is a micronutrient, magnesium is needed for various vital functions, including maintenance of cellular functions and nerve conduction. It is required to maintain the level of other minerals, such as sodium and potassium, in the body. By accomplishing all of these vital functions, the brain ensures the healthy functioning of the brain, muscles, and heart.

It occurs when you are on a nutrient-deficient diet, kidney malfunctioning, leading to excessive loss of magnesium, and gastrointestinal disorders causing the loss of magnesium through feces. In most cases, magnesium deficiency does not appear with any symptoms. In comparison, some patients with this deficiency can experience the below-mentioned symptoms.

• Fatigue and weakness
• Tremors
• Tetany
• Uncontrolled eye movement

How To Diagnose These Nutritional Deficiencies In The Body?

You must undergo some laboratory tests to determine the level of nutrients in your blood. The easiest way to diagnose these deficiencies is to seek help from online laboratories. LabMe is a trustworthy online laboratory that allows you to diagnose your nutritional deficiencies at home. You just have to collect your blood sample at home and send it to LabMe through these tests.

Now, the question is how to select the suitable test from LabMe. Many at-home tests are available at LabMe, which you can visit and select one that suits you best by analyzing the test findings. For example, vitamin D tests at home help you find vitamin D deficiency. Similarly, at home, heavy metal and essential elements tests can help diagnose the level of different elements, including magnesium.

Conclusion

A deficiency of even a single nutrient can result in mild to severe adverse health effects. Prolonged deficiency can result in chronic diseases, including heart problems. These deficiencies interfere with your daily activities by causing weakness and tiredness. Therefore, you must undergo proper testing to find the deficiency in your body. LabMe can help you determine the blood level of a specific nutrient, thus diagnosing nutrient deficiency.