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Platelet problems

by Alivia Nyhan

What are platelets?

Platelets are small blood cells that circulate throughout the bloodstream and help with clotting. They are also known as thrombocytes. When an injury occurs, platelets clot the wound. Without platelets, the wound would not heal properly.

What are the functions of platelets?

A platelet is a small, round, cell-shaped particle in the blood that functions to clump. Platelets usually appear as small round clumps or flecks. When a blood vessel is injured, platelets clump together to form a plug, which prevents further bleeding.

Problems with having low platelets?

Platelets are small cells in the blood that help your body form clots. Platelets also help stop bleeding and form scar tissue after an injury. Platelets help your blood clot, so if you have a bleeding problem, your platelet count is low. Low platelets can also contribute to a life-threatening condition called thrombocytopenia, in which your blood does not clot and forms large clumps. If a woman’s platelet count is low, she may experience heavier and longer periods. In some cases, low platelets can also cause menorrhagia, when a woman bleeds so heavily that she requires a transfusion.

A child with low platelets may have easy bruising, bleeding gums, and nosebleeds. Low platelets can also cause problems with clotting, which can lead to bleeding inside the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).

There are a few home remedies that you can use to raise your platelet count. One is to eat more foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges and broccoli. You can also take a vitamin C supplement. Another home remedy is to eat more foods that are rich in iron, such as spinach and red meat.

What to do when having high platelets?

Having high platelets is not a good thing. It’s a medical problem that causes your platelets to become too big. Platelets, a type of cell in your blood, help the blood clot. When platelets are too high, they can block the arteries and cause heart attacks. The way to have this problem corrected is to have platelets removed. The removal of platelets is called plateletpheresis.

There are a few home remedies that may help to lower platelets. These include consuming foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges and grapefruits, and taking supplements such as garlic and ginkgo Biloba. Additionally, drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, and avoiding smoking can also help to keep platelet levels down.

How to measure the platelets?

There are two ways to measure platelets: the absolute count and the relative count. The absolute count is the actual number of platelets in a given volume of blood. The normal range for the absolute count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter (µL) of blood. The relative count is the percentage of platelets in a given volume of blood. The normal range for the relative count is 40 to 60 percent.

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