Hello! I have been a doctor for 21 years. My name is Georgy Olegovich Sapego. In this article, I'll talk about low platelet counts.
Sometimes this does nothing at all, and sometimes you can die. Sometimes it is a congenital disease, and sometimes it is the effect of gin and tonic.
Platelets are a type of blood cell. They are involved in stopping bleeding.
Platelets usually float quietly in the blood and do not bother anyone. If a blood vessel is damaged somewhere, then at the site of the rupture there will be fragments of the vessel wall and the reinforcement on which it was held. Platelets attack these fittings and instantly raise the alarm.
Alarmed platelets become like monsters from a horror movie. At first, they calmly swam smooth and round, and after activation, they grow tentacles and become like an octopus.
At this moment, the platelets grab everything they can reach with their tentacles. They adjust to the place of rupture of relatives and a bunch of building materials, with the help of which they close up a hole in the vessel.
For an adult, a low platelet count is less than 150 to ten to the ninth degree in a liter.
In theory, the lower the platelet count, the higher the risk of bleeding. But for different diseases, the risk will differ.
The normal platelet count is 150 to 450 per ten to the ninth degree per liter.
Women usually have slightly more platelets than men, and young people have slightly more platelets than older people.
Interestingly, platelets increase in autumn and winter.
The first piece
Platelets are normally distributed. This means that most of the population has an average platelet count. Few people have a high level, and (most importantly) about 2.5% of people have platelets less than 150 to ten to the ninth degree per liter. And this is their norm. So don't panic ahead of time. You can enter this 2.5%.
Second feature
There is also a bad catch. In a person, the number of platelets can decrease dramatically. For example, twice. And still it will be above 150. This is normal? No. This not normal. The decrease in the number of platelets in half is strange, and you need to find out the reason.
Causes
There are many reasons for platelet reduction.
About 5-10% of pregnant women have low platelet counts. This is usually not scary.
With liver disease, the spleen may become enlarged. Normally, about 30% of platelets are hidden there. In the large spleen, already 90% can settle.
Immune thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count) is common. Usually it is accidentally found in adults who do not complain about anything.
Some viruses, bacteria and blood parasites also have a bad effect on this matter.
There are also a bunch of medicines that have a bad effect on platelets, and with them various herbal medicines. This also includes drinks with quinine like tonic. Not everyone knows, but bitter soda or gin and tonic can lower your platelets. Spectacular glowing cocktails also go there.
Bleeding
It is generally accepted that people with low platelet counts will bleed. In fact, it is very difficult to calculate the risk of bleeding from platelet counts.
The medical history is more important here. If there has already been bleeding, then the risk is higher.
Wet purpura
Purpura is a bleeding under the skin. They can be tiny red dots or large bruises.
The spots on the skin are dry purpura. Bloody bumps on the mucous membranes are called wet purple. It is clear that the mucous membrane is a tender place, and such a hemorrhage can easily break through. Then there will be bleeding. So moist purpura is the same as nose or bowel bleeding. And this is a bad sign.
Operations
If the platelet count falls below 50, there may be bleeding during surgery.
Spontaneous bleeding
If platelets fall below 20, it can bleed from any natural hole in our body.
If you suspect you have something similar, then be sure to consult your doctor.
