Blood: myths and facts

How much blood flows through our veins?

Many people know that the human body is made up of over 50% water. But how many litres of blood actually flow around our body? “It depends on a person’s weight and height,” says Wolfram Weinrebe. “A person of average weight has a blood volume of about 5 to 8 percent of their body weight.” That’s around 5 litres for a man who weighs 70 kg. And women have around 1 litre less blood than men.

How many litres of blood does the heart pump through the body a day?

“Around 10,000 litres”, says Weinrebe. “However, the value of 5 litres per minute is much more important for everyone on the intensive care unit. This way we can estimate how much blood a person needs in an emergency.”

Fun fact: Completely new blood flows through our veins every three months.

What is blood made of?

The saying “Blood is thicker than water” is true both literally and figuratively. And the reason for this can be seen in the laboratory as it consists of around 45% solid cells and particles. These float in the plasma that makes up the remaining 55%.

Why is blood red?

In actual fact, only a small portion of blood is red. The red blood cells are responsible for the colour. They carry an iron-containing protein molecule called haemoglobin. The iron it contains binds oxygen – a chemical reaction between iron and oxygen gives the blood its typical colour. 

Do aristocrats have blue blood?

“Anyone who has blue blood is very likely to have a serious case of poisoning,” says Weinrebe. “Of course, aristocrats don’t have blue blood.” So where does the saying come from? Rich people didn’t work out in the fields under the blazing sun. This meant their skin stayed pale. Under light skin, veins are more visible and have a blueish colour. That’s why aristocrats were said to have special, blue blood. 

How does a person get their blood group?

Blood groups are inherited and cannot be changed. They are particularly important for blood transfusions, because not all blood groups are compatible. Before this was discovered at the start of the 20th century, a blood transfusion was a life-threatening guessing game. 

What is golden blood? 

“This is a misleading name, because it has nothing to do with gold,” says Weinrebe. “It is the rarity and the properties of this blood group that make it so precious.”

Do people with certain blood groups get sick more often?

Dr Wolfram Weinrebe says: “Blood groups are closely related to the immune system. We’ve seen that with COVID-19. In this case, you are probably less likely to suffer serious consequences from the disease if your blood group is Rhesus negative and 0. People with blood group A tend to be more at risk.” Blood group 0 is also said to have advantages against malaria. However, these findings are not 100 % certain and there are always many factors involved in an infection, such as the number of antibodies, age, fitness and state of health. 

Can blood be produced artificially?

Although the composition of blood is know, it still cannot be produced in the laboratory. The interaction of its components is far too complex. Nevertheless, it is now possible to use genetic engineering to produce individual particles such as clotting factors for patients with haemophilia.

Why do we need blood from other people?

“Generally, the body is very well prepared for injuries. It can activate the clotting system at the point where the blood comes out. This ensures that wounds are closed very effectively in around three minutes,” says the specialist. However, if you lose a lot of blood, for example as a result of a coagulation disorder or an accident, it can quickly becoming life-threatening. “In an emergency, the volume is first replaced and the blood is cross-matched to provide replacements. Blood banks can supply the right blood within hours.” However, controlled and repeated blood loss such as blood donations of up to 500 ml are well tolerated by the body.

Can blood get sick?

“Anaemia and the loss of blood, for example due to infections or tumours, are a big issue for us at the hospital,” says Weinrebe. “Blood cells and individual particles can also get chronically sick, e.g. with leukaemia, which is more likely to occur early or late in life, or when blood clotting is disturbed by diseased platelets.” 

How much blood do women lose during their period?

“It is estimated that women lose between 30 and 100 ml of blood each month,” says Weinrebe. “The amount varies considerably.” The female body is usually well prepared for it. However, some may suffer from an iron deficiency. Women then feel tired and weary. In this case, they should have their haemoglobin level checked regularly and take iron tablets if necessary.

Can dark chocolate reduce blood pressure?

“Yes! Cocoa contains flavonoids which keep the blood vessels elastic and dilate them. This reduces blood pressure”, explains the expert. This isn’t the case with milk or white chocolate, because the cocoa content has to be at least 70%. The rule is: the more bitter and darker the chocolate, the better. But remember that dark chocolate isn’t a medicine – it will always be a sweet treat that can lead to obesity. And this can, of course, cause high blood pressure.” 

Does “sweet” blood attract mosquitoes?

“As far as I know, there are currently no reliable findings on this. However, we’ve all seen that mosquitoes seem to have certain preferences. Some people are bitten more often than others,” says Weinrebe. There is also no concrete proof that gin in the blood protects against mosquito bites. However, there might be a grain of truth to this myth, because the quinine in a gin & tonic is extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree and that really is supposed to protect against mosquitoes. However, the quinine content in the drink is too low to really do any good. If you want to enjoy your drink on the terrace in peace, it’s better to use mosquito spray.    

Is blood a remedy?

Myths abound about blood. It has always stood for life energy, strength and health. In Christianity, too, wine symbolising blood is drunk during communion. “However, drinking blood from people or animals isn’t a good idea. Our systems do not tolerate it, and it can even be very dangerous due to the high protein content. This can lead to shock”, explains the doctor.