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Arvind comes from a middle-class family and he is working in a private company in Chennai. He experienced some unusual changes in his body such as bleeding gums and headaches. At first, he thought that he was suffering from the symptoms of cancer and visited a nearby hospital for further check-ups.
Doctors who attended him confirmed that he is having low platelet counts and that’s why he is facing some symptoms. Arvind is currently undergoing low platelet count treatment that improved his conditions to a large extent.
What are Platelets?
Platelets are blood cells that help stop bleeding and play a key role in wound healing. They provide ways to repair tissue damages and are not visible to naked eyes.
A platelet count is responsible for measuring the concentration of platelets, and they are very important for maintaining good health.
What Is Low Platelet Count or Thrombocytopenia?
Low platelet counts or Thrombocytopenia is a condition that results in a low count of platelets. A person should have a normal platelet count because it gives ways to keep health in a perfect state. Having low platelet counts can affect the quality of life. Anyone who is having less than 30,000 platelets may face a thrombocytopenia condition that requires more attention.
What Are the Causes of a Low Platelet Count?
A person should know the causes of a low platelet count after diagnosing the condition. This will help follow the preventive measures which give ways to minimize the problem to a large extent.
Some disorders and conditions may cause thrombocytopenia such as:
- Excessive use of alcohol or alcoholism
- Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- Medications used to treat infections caused by bacteria, heart problems, and seizures
- Exposure to chemicals such as arsenic
- Bone marrow diseases
- Autoimmune disorders
- Viruses that cause hepatitis
What Are the Symptoms of Low Platelet Count?
Mild cases of thrombocytopenia don’t cause any symptoms. On the other hand, severe cases of low platelet count may cause some symptoms that can result in complications.
The symptoms of low platelet count include blood in stool, bleeding gums, rectal bleeding, early bruising, heavy menstrual periods, etc. Severe headaches, muscle pains, dizziness, irregular bowel movements, red urine, and blood vomiting are some other symptoms of low platelet count.
How is Thrombocytopenia Diagnosed?
Anyone who is having bleeding that is difficult to stop should visit a nearby hospital to undergo some medical exams. Some of them include blood count, physical exam, and blood clot test which gives ways to detect the symptoms with high accuracy. A bone marrow biopsy is highly recommended for patients who suffer from low platelet count. Not only that, imaging tests are necessary for checking an enlarged spleen.
Treatments for Low Platelet Count
Thrombocytopenia can last for days or years that need proper treatments. In most cases, a physician will recommend treatment for low platelets depending on the condition and other factors.
Following are some of the popular low platelet count treatment options:
- Blood or Platelet Transfusion: A blood or platelet transfusion is one of the treatments designed for patients who suffer from low platelet counts. It involves replacing the lost blood with red blood cell transfusions.
- Prescription Medicines: If the condition occurs due to an immune system problem, then a doctor will recommend some drugs to boost platelet counts.
- Surgical Procedures: Surgery is necessary for a patient when other treatments don’t work for him/her.
- Plasma Exchange Treatment: Plasma exchange is another treatment meant for treating low platelet count because it contributes more towards lowering the condition.
How to Increase Platelet Count?
Those who want to increase platelet count should consider eating some healthy foods and taking medications that will do major wonders. Moreover, they allow a person to stay healthy which will help reduce unwanted problems.
- Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are rich in vitamin K that helps reduce blood clot problems. They won’t directly increase the platelet count and provide methods to produce enough proteins required for the body. This, in turn, gives ways to prevent blood clotting and bleeding problems.
- Meat and EggsÂ
Beef liver and eggs have high vitamin B12 that allows a person to keep his/her blood cells in a healthy state. Furthermore, vitamin B12 is also available in dairy foods such as milk and cheese helping to increase platelet counts.
- Folate Rich FoodsÂ
Deficiency of folate in foods can lower platelet counts and people should consider taking foods that are rich in the folate B vitamin. Some of the foods which contain high folate include kidney beans, orange juice, black-eyed beans, spinach, etc. All of them will help increase the platelet counts to a large extent.
- Vitamin C Rich FoodsÂ
Vitamin C plays an important role in grouping platelets together and helps them function well. It is wise to take mangoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, pineapple, and red bell peppers for enhancing the platelets count.
- Iron-Rich FoodsÂ
Iron deficiency can lead to low platelets count and one should take iron-rich foods to overcome the problem. One can add pumpkin seeds, lentils, mussels, and beef to his/her diet plan for increasing the iron content.
- Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is a low platelets treatment food that can help elevate the count. Drinking a cup of wheatgrass along with lemon juice enables a person to maintain his/her platelets in a perfect state. Also, it gives ways to stay away from health issues effectively to lead a less life.
- MedicationsÂ
Various medications are available in the markets today to address the problems of those who suffer from low platelets. The Romiplostim injection is a medication to increase platelets that will help reduce blood clotting and bleeding. However, one should know the pros and cons of taking it from different sources.
The Bottom Line
Low platelet counts can lead to various problems when they are not handled properly and one should know how to overcome them from different sources. A person who is having low platelets should consider eating healthy foods and follow some healthy habits which will help obtain optimal results. He/she also should know the types of treatments available for the problem in hospitals.
