Causes For Low Platelet Count

Platelets are a kind of blood cells produced by the bone marrow that are responsible for blood clotting. In normal conditions, every milliliter of blood contains anywhere between 150,000 to 400,000 platelets. The normal life-span of a platelet cell is roughly 10 days, after which period the old cells are replaced with newer ones. However, sometimes the platelets get destroyed or used up faster or are not produced in sufficient numbers, leading to a drastic reduction in the platelet count in the bloodstream.

This condition, medically referred to as thrombocytopenia, manifests itself through symptoms akin to anemia. The most common symptom of this condition is prolonged bleeding and slow blood clotting in minor wounds and bruises. In addition, blood may ooze out of gums and the nose without any external injury. It is also common to experience unusually heavy menstrual flows and to pass blood in urine and stools. In case these symptoms turn serious, you should immediately consult a doctor to prevent complications caused by excessive bleeding. In such cases, intravenous blood transfusion or immunoglobulin injections are recommended as treatments.

How To Increase Platelet Count

However, there are a few home remedies that you may find useful in preventing and treating low platelet count in blood. You should include drumsticks, fenugreek leaves, citrus fruits, green gram, eggs and liver in your diet, as these boost blood cell production. You must stay away from foods containing saturated fats and alcohol, as these affect the functioning of the liver adversely and may worsen the condition.

It has also been found that vitamin K plays a crucial role in the production of platelets, so you should consume natural sources of this essential nutrient to maintain a healthy level of blood cells in your body. Leafy vegetables like spinach, cabbage and broccoli, and fruits like bananas, oranges, grapes and blueberries are rich sources of this vitamin. In addition, you should also consume a healthy amount of milk and dairy products every day, as they are natural sources of calcium, which is essential to keep the bone marrow in good health and thereby ensure adequate production of platelets. By way of precautionary measures, you should also avoid active sports that involve the risk of injury, as this exposes you to the danger to bleeding profusely from even minor cuts and wounds. You should also opt for antibiotic courses prescribed by a doctor if the condition is caused by some internal infection.