How many platelets are enough?
A normal platelet count in adults ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. A platelet count of less than 150,000 platelets per microliter is lower than normal. When you have a low platelet count, you may have trouble stopping bleeding.
Dangerous internal bleeding can occur when your platelet count falls below 10,000 platelets per microliter. Though rare, severe thrombocytopenia can cause bleeding into the brain, which can be fatal.
low platelet count (30 to 50): you might bruise more easily than usual and bleed for longer than you'd expect if you cut yourself. very low platelet count (10 to 30): you might bleed after very minor injuries that wouldn't normally bleed, bleed for longer than usual, and bruise very easily.
Each day, the average healthy adult produces about 100 billion platelets. That equals out to 1 million platelets produced every second. 5. Platelets only live about seven to 10 days in your body.
Prophylactic platelet transfusion is indicated below a specific threshold and is indicated before specific procedures or to prevent spontaneous bleeding. These include the following: To prevent spontaneous bleeding - transfuse at less than 10,000 cells/microliter; some recommend less than 5,000 cells/microliter.
A platelet count lower than 150,000 per microliter of blood is known as thrombocytopenia. A count lower than 10,000 is considered severe thrombocytopenia. When your platelet count gets too low, it can cause dangerous internal bleeding. Learn more about what causes low platelet count on our blog.
Infections: Bacterial and viral infections may lower your platelet levels. Alcohol use disorder: Alcohol slows platelet production. Drinking a lot of alcohol may cause your platelet level to drop. Toxic chemicals: Exposure to toxic chemicals, including arsenic, benzene and pesticides, may affect your platelet level.
- Between 20,000 and 50,000/µl: There is more risk of bleeding in relation to an injury.
- Less than 20,000/µl: Bleeding happens even without an injury.
- Below 5,000/µl: Spontaneous bleeding can be severe and a risk to life.
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Platelet count ranges by age.
| Age (years) | Approximate platelet count (male) | Approximate platelet count (female) |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 240,000 | 265,000 |
| 35–49 | 245,000 | 270,000 |
| 50–64 | 230,000 | 260,000 |
| 65–74 | 220,000 | 250,000 |
A high platelet count is 400,000 (400 × 109/L) or above. A higher-than-normal number of platelets is called thrombocytosis. It means your body is making too many platelets.
What medication is used to increase platelets?
Corticosteroids: These medicines help increase platelet counts. Corticosteroids include prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone. This may be the first treatment your provider recommends for a low platelet count.
Your body will replace the liquid part of the blood (plasma) and platelets within two days and the red blood cells within 56 days.
Platelets are made in our bone marrow, the sponge-like tissue inside our bones. Bone marrow contains stem cells that develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Platelets and other blood components are always needed. One donation could help save more than one life.
Several studies show that acute exercise results in a transient increase in platelet count. This increase is caused by hemoconcentration and by platelet release from the liver, lungs, and, importantly, the spleen [4–6].
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have signs of thrombocytopenia that worry you. Bleeding that won't stop is a medical emergency. Seek immediate help for bleeding that can't be controlled by the usual first-aid techniques, such as applying pressure to the area.
Most patients can be managed with outpatient treatment. They may not need hospital admission. In most patients, ITP symptoms begin to improve within days to weeks and go away within several months.
If your platelet level becomes too low, your doctor can replace lost blood with transfusions of packed red blood cells or platelets. Medications. If your condition is related to an immune system problem, your doctor might prescribe drugs to boost your platelet count. The first-choice drug might be a corticosteroid.
- Canned and frozen foods and leftovers. The nutritional value of food deteriorates with time.
- White flour, white rice and processed foods. ...
- Hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated or trans-fats. ...
- Sugar. ...
- Dairy products. ...
- Meat. ...
- Alcoholic beverages. ...
- Foods that can interfere with blood clotting.
Vitamin B12 plays an important role in keeping our blood cells healthy. So, having foods rich in Vitamin B12 like eggs, liver, seafood, etc. will help you increase your platelet count.
To increase the blood platelet counts incorporate plenty of fluids like coconut water, pomegranate, or cranberry juice.
Can you live long with low platelets?
Immune thrombocytopenia is not life-threatening for most patients, and it has high potential for resolving spontaneously or with treatment. Thus, the life expectancy of most patients with ITP is similar to that of the general population. Acute ITP usually resolves spontaneously in 6 months or less without treatment.
A normal platelet count is between 150,000–400,000 platelets per cubic milliliter of blood. In mild cases of thrombocytopenia, the count is between 100,000–150,000. In severe cases, the count can be close to zero.
Fatigue has been documented in focus groups of patients with ITP; in these groups, over 90% of patients have described symptoms of fatigue. Many patients say that their symptoms of fatigue are worse when their platelet count is low.
Because platelets are produced in your bone marrow, decreased platelet production is often related to a bone marrow problem. Some factors that can cause decreased platelet production are: Leukemia or lymphoma. Certain types of anemia.
Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, goji berries and blackberries are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants tend to neutralize the free radicals and thus help cope with the decrease in platelet count. Including berries in the diet may help in increasing platelet count.
- Furosemide.
- Gold, used to treat arthritis.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Penicillin.
- Quinidine.
- Quinine.
- Ranitidine.
- Sulfonamides.
Certain cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma can lower your platelet count. The abnormal cells in these cancers can crowd out healthy cells in the bone marrow, where platelets are made. Less common causes of a low platelet count include: Cancer that spreads to the bone.
Putting this together, we determined the following platelet count reference intervals for seniors aged 60 years and older: 165–355 × 109/L for females, and 150–300 × 109/L (60–69 years), 130–300 (70–79 years), and 120–300 (80 years and above) for males.
HIV and AIDS have been shown to cause a low platelet count since the 1980s. It is a common complication of HIV infection, in addition to the medicines used to treat HIV and AIDS. In fact, often the low platelet count is due to thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP).
A person may be able to increase their platelet count naturally by consuming foods that contain folate and vitamins B9, C, D, and K. It is essential to maintain adequate platelet levels to ensure that the blood clots correctly. Doctors diagnose people with thrombocytopenia if they have a low platelet count.
Can stress cause low platelets?
Acute psychological stress can similarly affect platelet function,42 particularly among those prone to anxiety. Platelets are activated by their interaction with various circulating agonists (including serotonin and catecholamines) via separate and specific receptors in the platelet membrane.
A platelet count below 50,000 is low. When your platelet count is low, you may bruise or bleed more easily than usual. A platelet count below 20,000 is very low.
A CCI greater than 7500 at 1 hour and greater than 4500 at 24 hours post transfusion indicate adequate platelet responses.
Very Early Increased Platelet Count within a Week after Initiation of High-Dose Dexamethasone Treatment Is Associated with Long-Term Response in Newly Diagnosed Immune Thrombocytopenia Patients. Acta Haematol. 2022;145(2):193-200.
The thrombopoietin response to acute thrombocytopenia takes 3 to 4 days to increase platelet production by bone marrow megakaryocytes, and results in a physiological “overshoot” in the platelet count.
Thrombopoietin is the primary regulator of platelet production; thus, abnormalities of the hormone or its receptor might also be responsible for thrombocytopenia.
Thrombopoietin mimetics are medications that stimulate the production of platelets in the bone marrow.
It is important that platelet counts not be done too often since the levels fluctuate, sometimes quite widely. One week the platelets may be 27, the next week 51, and the week after that 18 without any change in the person's treatment or bleeding.
A steady intake of water increases hemoglobin indices, such as the MCH and MCHC, and decreases the MPV. As shown in Table 1, at the end of the study period, WBC, RBC, and platelet counts increased in the experimental group, as did hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, although the increases were not significant ( p >0.05).
Coffee drinking decreases platelet aggregation, and induces a significant increase in phenolic acid platelet concentration.
What are the best supplements to increase platelet count?
Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your platelets group together and function efficiently. It also helps you to absorb iron, which may also help to increase platelet counts. The book Vitamin C: Its Chemistry and Biochemistry reported a rise in platelet count in a small group of patients who received vitamin C supplementation.
If treatment is necessary, the most common treatments include: Corticosteroids ("steroids") — Steroids prevent bleeding by decreasing the production of antibodies against platelets. If effective, the platelet count will rise within two to four weeks of starting steroids.
Fatigue has been documented in focus groups of patients with ITP; in these groups, over 90% of patients have described symptoms of fatigue. Many patients say that their symptoms of fatigue are worse when their platelet count is low.
A steady intake of water increases hemoglobin indices, such as the MCH and MCHC, and decreases the MPV. As shown in Table 1, at the end of the study period, WBC, RBC, and platelet counts increased in the experimental group, as did hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, although the increases were not significant ( p >0.05).
If your platelet level becomes too low, your doctor can replace lost blood with transfusions of packed red blood cells or platelets. Medications. If your condition is related to an immune system problem, your doctor might prescribe drugs to boost your platelet count. The first-choice drug might be a corticosteroid.
Even egg whites helps in boosting your platelet count as they contain albumin which is a vital protein found in the blood plasma.
Putting this together, we determined the following platelet count reference intervals for seniors aged 60 years and older: 165–355 × 109/L for females, and 150–300 × 109/L (60–69 years), 130–300 (70–79 years), and 120–300 (80 years and above) for males.
