How to Overcome Platelet Deficiency

Опубликовал Admin
1-01-2021, 11:10
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A platelet deficiency, also called thrombocytopenia, is when your blood doesn’t contain enough platelets to clot properly. All kinds of things can cause this issue, ranging from autoimmune disorders to pregnancy. This sounds serious, but it’s a pretty common condition and most people improve with no lasting problems. If you’re showing signs of thrombocytopenia, make an appointment with your doctor and follow their instructions to make a full recovery.

Getting Medical Treatment

  1. Visit your doctor if you show symptoms of thrombocytopenia. While having a low platelet count is usually not dangerous or life-threatening, it still requires treatment from a doctor. The main symptoms are easy or excessive bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts that won’t stop, bleeding from your gums or nose, unusually heavy menstrual flows, and general fatigue. If you experience these symptoms, call your doctor for an exam.
    • Bruises may also last a long time, like longer than a week. This is because the blood spreads under your skin.
    • Sometimes bleeding under your skin looks like small red dots spread out over a large area.
    • Always seek emergency medical treatment if you receive a serious wound that won’t stop bleeding. This is a medical emergency. While this alone is not be a sign of low platelet count, it could be a sign if you have also had prior bleeding episodes or blood spots in your mouth.
  2. Let the doctor examine you to determine if you have thrombocytopenia. Before running any tests, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and do a non-invasive physical exam. The doctor will look for signs of bleeding under your skin or bruising throughout your body. They may also press on your abdomen to see if your spleen is swollen, which is a possible cause of thrombocytopenia.
    • Since some medications can cause thrombocytopenia, tell your doctor about all the prescription and non-prescription medications you take. This is an important part of your medical history.
    • Also tell your doctor if someone in your family has a history of platelet deficiencies.
  3. Test your blood to measure your platelet count. If your doctor suspects that you have thrombocytopenia, they will take a blood sample to count your blood platelets. This is the main test to determine whether or not you have the condition.
    • A normal platelet level is usually 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microliter of blood. If your count is below 150,000, then you may need other clinical exams to determine if you have thrombocytopenia.
    • Blood tests usually take a few days, so if your condition is stable, then your doctor will send you home and contact you with the results.
  4. Have a CT scan to determine the cause of the condition. Low platelet count is usually a symptom of a different condition, so your doctor may also want to do a CT scan. This shows the doctor if any of your organs, particularly your spleen or liver, are swollen or look abnormal. This helps the doctor determine what is causing the problem and how to treat it.
    • If your spleen is swollen, it could indicate an infection or autoimmune disorder. An enlarged liver could be from cirrhosis or autoimmune diseases.

Treating the Underlying Causes

  1. Wait for the condition to clear up on its own if it’s a mild case. Some cases of thrombocytopenia don’t require any treatment at all. If your doctor thinks the condition is minor and will clear up on its own, then they’ll send you home to wait for symptoms to subside.
    • Short-term thrombocytopenia can be from taking certain medications, an infection, or your diet. Your doctor may suggest some slight changes to remove the cause and increase your platelet count.
    • Keep in contact with your doctor during this period and let them know if your symptoms don’t go away or get worse.
  2. Stop taking any medication that could be causing thrombocytopenia. Certain medications can cause a low platelet count, so your body should return to normal after stopping those medications. If your doctor thinks a medication you’re taking caused the condition, they’ll switch you off it. Also follow the doctor’s instructions for any over the counter medications you take.
    • Some medications that can cause thrombocytopenia are blood thinners like ibuprofen, aspirin, NSAIDs, Heparin, chemotherapy drugs, penicillin, quinine, and some statins.
    • Always take medications exactly as directed. Overdosing on some medications could also cause a platelet drop.
  3. Use corticosteroids to increase your platelet count. If you do require medical treatment for your thrombocytopenia, a common first step is prescription corticosteroids. These drugs can increase your platelet count and relieve your symptoms. Follow your doctor’s directions for taking the medication correctly and finish the entire course of the drugs.
    • Corticosteroids usually come on tablet form. Take them with a glass of water.
    • Common side effects of corticosteroids are elevated blood pressure, fluid retention, mood swings, and minor weight gain.
  4. Take immunosuppressants if the condition is from an autoimmune disorder. Some autoimmune disorders, like lupus, can inflame your spleen and prevent it from filtering platelets properly. If your platelet count is from an autoimmune disease, prescription immunosuppressants can stop your body from attacking itself and alleviate your symptoms.
    • While you’re taking immunosuppressants, you’ll be more susceptible to illness and infections. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables so you can resist getting sick and clean out any cuts you get to avoid infections.
    • You may have appointments with a hematologist who will study your blood.
  5. Receive a blood transfusion if your platelet count is very low. For more severe thrombocytopenia cases, you might need a blood transfusion to replace lost platelets. For a transfusion, you’ll receive an IV injection of blood in the hospital. This will increase your platelet count while your doctor brings your condition under control with other drugs or treatments.
    • A blood transfusion might sound scary, but it’s not an invasive or painful procedure. Millions of people receive blood transfusions and make full recoveries.
    • You’ll need blood that matches your blood type. If you have a friend or family member with the same blood type as you, they could donate. Otherwise, you can receive blood from the hospital bank.
    • Typically, you’ll only get a blood transfusion if you’re going into major surgery and have a platelet threshold less than 50,000. Otherwise, in a non-bleeding transfusion, you’ll get a transfusion if the platelet threshold is less than 10,000.

Managing Symptoms at Home

  1. Abstain from activities that could cause injuries. Since having a low platelet count makes blood clotting difficult, small injuries could cause a lot of bleeding. Avoid contact sports or other activities where you might get cut or injured. Wait until your symptoms are gone before taking part again.
    • Remember that just because you don’t get cut doesn’t mean that you aren’t injured. You could have internal bleeding if you get tackled playing football, for instance.
    • If you can’t avoid certain activities because of your job, take extra precautions. If you work around sharp objects, for example, wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid getting cut.
    • If you have any doubts about an activity, call your doctor and ask if it’s safe.
  2. Limit your alcohol consumption to keep platelet production high. Alcohol slows platelet production and could damage your liver, so avoid it while you’re showing symptoms. After your symptoms subside, limit your alcohol intake to 1-2 drinks per day to avoid overwhelming your liver and causing another flareup.
    • One drink is considered 1 glass of wine, 1 standard can of beer, or 1 shot of hard liquor.
    • Ask your doctor if you should avoid alcohol long-term, or only while you still show symptoms. It depends on the situation.
  3. Avoid taking medications that will thin your blood. Medications to avoid are aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. These can thin your blood and make clotting even more difficult. Since these are pain relievers, look for a non-aspirin or NSAID product like acetaminophen instead.
    • There may be other medications that thin your blood as well. Speak with your doctor to see if there are others that you should avoid.
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