What does low blood platelet count mean and how to raise it?

Every time we donate blood, it is examined for the number of platelets. These are the most important cells in the body that take part in blood clotting. If a low platelet count is found, doctors talk about a disease such as thrombocytopenia.

• Platelet role
• Causes of
• Symptoms of
• Than
• Diseases Treatment
• Nutrition
• Pregnancy
• Child
• Folk remedies

Platelet role

Platelets are colorless cells in the form of round or oval plates that are contained in a person's blood and are responsible forfunction of its coagulation. The level of blood platelets directly affects its viscosity and density. Normally, the platelet count should be between 180 and 320 thousand per 1 milliliter of blood, in women - from 150 to 380 thousand, respectively.

Basically, the blood platelets are formed in the bone marrow from progenitor cells - megakaryocytes. The membranes of platelets contain receptors, the activation of which cells can become spherical, form outgrowth, connect with each other or be fixed on the walls of blood vessels, release various biologically active substances into the blood.

These abilities are necessary for:

• Formation of the primary thrombus at the site of damage to the vessel wall for its temporary closure.
• Maintaining the constriction( spasm) of the vessel to reduce the flow of blood in it and the pressure on the damaged walls.
• Subsequent dissolution of the blood clot.

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Causes of

Thrombocytopenia can develop in three schemes:

• Decrease in the number of megakaryocytes or their complete absence due to disruption of the spleen, liver, thyroid, bone marrow, intoxication, HIV.
• Increased destruction of platelets due to immune and infectious diseases, due to medication.
• Disruption of platelet distribution and their delay in the spleen.

Platelet deficiency is most often a consequence of a number of infections:

• herpes is a skin disease affecting the area of ​​the lips, nose, genitals;
• hepatitis - with this disease there is infection of the liver, its increase in size, inflammation;
• ARI, ARVI and other viral diseases;
• mononucleosis is an acute viral disease that affects the nasopharynx, lymph nodes, liver, spleen;
• systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases in which the body takes its own cells for pathogens;
• HIV, which affects the cells of the immune system.

Non-infectious causes:

• Gaucher's disease - a small amount of platelets is present in the blood. With such a state, the activity of the glucocerebrosidase enzyme is inadequate in the body, as a result of which the bones deform, the work of the kidneys, spleen, lungs, kidneys or brain is disrupted.
• Oncological diseases of blood and bone marrow.
• Taking anticoagulant medications that promote blood thinning( Aspirin, Heparin).
• Drinking lots of blood thinning products: garlic, onion, ginger, cherries, lemon, etc.
• Avitaminosis.
• Intoxication with alcohol or heavy metals.
• Pregnancy and childbirth.
• Abundant monthly bleeding.
• Severe trauma or surgical intervention with profuse blood loss.

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Symptoms of

In most cases, a low level of platelets does not appear. But some signs allow you to suspect the disease:

• Multiple subcutaneous hemorrhages of various sizes and shapes after any, even minor, physical effects on soft tissues. At the same time hematomas have a different coloration - from blue to greenish, which indicates a different time of their appearance. Localized spots mostly on the front surface of the chest, abdominal wall, face.
• Abundant menstruation and bleeding between them.
• Hemorrhages in the eyes.
• With an accidental cut, you can not stop the blood.
• Bleeding from the nose, throat, an admixture of blood in the urine and feces.

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Than

• is dangerous. Internal organs bleeding.
• Abundant menstruation leading to anemia( anemia).
• Large blood loss due to serious injuries or surgeries.
• Hemorrhage in the retina of the eye with subsequent loss of vision.
• Hemorrhages in the brain with a subsequent stroke until death.
• Threat of mother's life during childbirth.
• Fetal life threat.
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Treatment of

A low number of platelets is usually detected when the patient's blood is analyzed. If the disease became known at an early stage, it can be overcome without the use of medications, it is enough to adhere to a diet and a healthy lifestyle.

If the low number of platelets in the blood is due to the presence of HIV in the body, treatment with Gamma-globulin, anti-D globulin, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone is recommended.

In severe thrombocytopenia, transfusion of platelet mass and blood plasma is indicated. To reduce bleeding, use sodium etamzilate, thrombin, serotonin adipate, a solution of calcium chloride, vitamins, iron preparations. To reduce vascular permeability and suppress immune responses, glucocorticosteroid hormones are prescribed, and the duration of treatment is from 1 to 6 months.

If conservative therapy with drugs is ineffective, the bleeding and hemorrhages do not decrease profusely, an operation to remove the spleen can be performed - splenectomy. This procedure gives up to 80% of the cures, especially in young patients due to a decrease in the destruction of platelets and activation of their production by the bone marrow.

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Food

The platelet count can be increased if you eat foods that are rich in vitamins C and A, group B, iron:

• Greens: spinach, parsley, dill, leeks.
• Vegetables and root vegetables: carrots, potatoes, beets, bell peppers, avocado, pumpkin. Nuts: almonds, peanuts. Meat products: red meat, liver.
• Egg yolk.
• Cheese.
• Yeast.
• Fruit and berries: wild rose, common and aronia, apple, garnet, bananas, apricots, melon.
• Buckwheat, beans, dishes and pastries made from dark rye and whole wheat flour.
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It is strictly forbidden to use marinades, alcohol, spices, sea cabbage, red grape juice, cucumbers, cranberries, cherries, lemon, cherries, tomatoes, people with low platelets.

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When pregnancy is

In the first two trimesters, thrombocytopenia several times increases the threat of miscarriage, leads to the appearance of early gestosis( increased swelling with complications of fetal development).In the last months of pregnancy, a low platelet count indicates a threat of premature birth and / or severe bleeding. For this reason, women with chronic and hard-to-correct thrombocytopenia are not recommended to become pregnant.

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Child

The normal platelet level for children depends on age and is 1 milliliter of blood:

• from 100 to 420 thousand in newborns;
• from 150 to 350 thousand in children under one year;
• from 180 to 320 thousand at the age of the year.

Characteristic signs of thrombocytopenia in a child are similar to those in adults: bruises, nosebleeds and gums, changes in color of urine and feces, visual impairment, and prolonged bleeding of wounds.

The causes that caused a decrease in platelet levels are most often of an infectious nature, but there are also cases when the mother's immune system produces antibodies against fetal platelet. Often a low platelet count is recorded in premature infants, newborns with extremely low body weight, or with asphyxia during labor and before them.

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Folk remedies

Nettle is considered an effective means for raising the level of platelets. You can use it in two ways:

1. Mix 50 milliliters of water or milk with 1 tablespoon of nettle juice, take 3 times daily before meals.
2. 10 grams of dried nettle leaves pour 200 milliliters of boiling water and 3-5 minutes cook on low heat. Insist the broth in the thermos for 30 minutes, strain and drink 100 milliliters 3 times daily before meals.

Sesame oil lifts platelets well, if you drink it 1 tablespoon 30 minutes before eating. The duration of the course is 3-4 weeks.