Platelets are colorless blood cells that are responsible for restoring damaged vessels and play an important role in the process of blood clotting. Lowering the level of these components of blood negatively affects the health of a person and can threaten serious illnesses. The causes of low platelets in the blood can be quite a lot. Knowing them, you can easily prevent thrombocytopenia - the so-called all diseases of the circulatory system associated with a decrease in the number of platelets - and avoid complex treatment.
Causes of low platelet count in the blood
The formation of platelets occurs in the bone marrow. They are formed from megakaryocytes. Diameter of platelets does not exceed 2-4 microns. In one liter of the blood of a healthy person there should be about 150-380 x 109 of these blood cells. The level of platelets is constantly changing. So, for example, in women during menstruation, the number of these blood cells can be reduced by half. But later all of them are restored. You can begin to survive if the platelet count drops below 100x109 units and does not increase over a long period of time.
The main reasons for the decrease in the number of platelets below the norm are as follows:
- The main reason for the disappearance of platelets is the reduction in the number of megakaryocytes. This happens most often against the background of blood diseases such as leukemia or anemia.
- Decreased platelet count can signal bone marrow damage.
- A common cause of low platelets is infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis or smallpox.
- Reducing the level of colorless blood cells can also due to an increase in the spleen.
- Sometimes thrombocytopenia develops after serious injuries accompanied by loss of blood, and unsuccessful surgical intervention.
- In women, a low platelet count in the blood is observed during pregnancy.
- Thrombocytopenia people are abused with alcohol.
- Some drugs (Aspirin, Heparin, antihistamines) help to lower the level of platelets.
- Negative effects on the composition of the blood poisoning (including alcohol).
- Of course, do not forget about the hereditary predisposition to thrombocytopenia.
How to treat a low platelet count?
Treatment of thrombocytopenia is selected depending on how much the amount of blood cells has changed. If the changes are not significant, for complete recovery it will be enough to comply with the diet:
- Add vegetables and greens to the diet.
- Eat more products containing Omega 3 acids: seafood, flaxseed oil, broccoli, spinach, chicken eggs, broccoli, beans.
- It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol during the treatment of thrombocytopenia.
- Exclude from your own menu fatty dishes, spices, marinades.
- Rather, vitamins A and C contained in the dog rose,
carrots, peppers, potatoes, citrus fruits.
Do not harm mineral supplements and vitamin complexes. In order for the treatment to proceed more quickly, it is also important to stick to a healthy lifestyle: regularly walk in the fresh air, pay attention to sports, sleep at least seven hours a day, try not to be nervous and overexert.
In more serious situations, injections of immunoglobulin and glucocorticosteroids are prescribed. In the event that at low platelets in the blood does not help either folk or conservative methods of treatment, a transfusion of platelet mass is required.