Health

How To Increase Platelet Count: Naturally & Through Supplements

Overview of platelet count

Our platelets are made in the bone marrow where white and red blood cells are made too. They are also called thrombocytes. The lifespan of a platelet after being circulated in the bloodstream is about 8 to 10 days. This tiny plate-like looking thing’s normal count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. If a platelet count falls below 10,000 to 20,000, the risk of excess bleeding presents itself. When the platelet count is less than 50,000, bleeding can be even more serious. While people often try to understand how to increase platelet count there also exist some people whose body creates excess platelets and their count ranges from 500,000 to more than 1 million.

Measurements for Different Levels Of Platelets in the Blood

In general, a normal platelet count can be anything between 150,000 to 450,000 mcL of blood. However, despite being the normal range, researchers state that the range may slightly differ for both men and women. So, the normal range for both men and women cam be summerised in the table below:

Gender	Normal range
Men	Normal platelet count is between 135,000 and 317,000 mcL.
Women	Normal platelet count is between 157,000 and 371,000 mcL.

Symptoms of low platelet count

The symptoms of low platelet count include but are not limited to:

red, purple, or brown bruises, called purpura
a rash with small red or purple dots called petechiae
nosebleeds
bleeding gums
bleeding from wounds that lasts for a prolonged period or doesn’t stop on their own
heavy menstrual bleeding

Thrombocytopenia is the condition where one’s body doesn’t produce enough platelets. . If your platelet count gets too low, bleeding can even occur under the skin and present itself as a bruise and in some cases, you might also end up bleeding internally. The causes of Thrombocytopenia are many including certain medicines, cancer, liver disease, pregnancy, infections, and an abnormal immune system.

Causes of low platelets count

Some of the leading causes of low platelets count are excess consumption of alcohol, aplastic anaemia, leukaemia, certain lymphomas and myelodysplastic syndromes, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Enlarged spleen caused by cirrhosis of the liver; There are three types of Thrombocytopenia, the destruction of the platelet where an auto-antibody attaches itself to the platelet surface. Platelet sequestration in someone with a large spleen or with liver disease and decreased platelet production due to bone marrow diseases are also 2 classes of Thrombocytopenia. Gaucher disease, exposure to toxic chemicals, including arsenic, benzene and pesticides, certain medications, hepatitis C, CMV, EBV and HIV also cause decreased production of platelets in one’s body.

Foods that increase platelet count along with a description

Understanding how to increase platelet count fast is key since having anything at random over hearsay can do more harm than good. The kind of food to increase platelet count includes folate-rich food, decent amounts of vitamins B-12, C, D, and K along with iron-rich nutrients. Platelets increasing foods like dark, leafy green vegetables, like spinach and Brussels sprouts, beef liver, black-eyed peas, fortified breakfast cereals and dairy alternatives, rice, and yeast aid the increase in folate.

Folate is an important vitamin B required for the production and maintenance of healthy blood cells.
Now, foods to increase platelet count must also include vitamin B-12 which is mostly present in animal products like beef, eggs, and fish.
The vegetarian and vegan options include fortified cereals and fortified dairy alternatives like almond and soy milk along with certain supplements.
Some foods rich in vitamin C that aid platelet increase are broccoli, oranges, grapefruits, kiwi, red and green bell peppers, and strawberries.
Foods that contain vitamin D are egg yolks, fatty fish like salmon and tuna, fish liver oils, and vegans can opt for fortified orange juice, fortified dairy alternatives and UV-exposed mushrooms.
Leafy greens, broccoli, soybeans, and pumpkin are rich in vitamin K while oysters, white and kidney beans, dark chocolate, lentil, and tofu are iron-rich. Vegetarians and vegans can pair beans, lentils, and tofu with the above-mentioned vitamin C foods to have better absorption rates of the nutrients.

Foods that lower platelet count & must be avoided

The several causes of a decreased platelet count are certain bone marrow diseases, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and high alcohol consumption. It is crucial to be cognizant of your diet and pay attention to what you use to fuel your body and understand the role it plays. Certain foods that contribute to lower platelet count and must be avoided whenever possible are wine, liquor, regular or even non alcoholic beer, refined grains, sugar, foods or drinks with added sugar, energy drinks, coffee, green tea, foods high in sodium, and artificial sweeteners. Fats in red meat, dairy, fried foods, and processed foods, as well as cow’s milk in some dairy products, affect platelet production negatively.

Supplements that increase platelet count

Platelet increase with the help of supplements is extremely beneficial for anyone who can not consume dairy or meat products due to their food preferences.

Having food to increase platelet count that is rich in vitamin C, B-12, and D is not always feasible which is why there are several alternatives on the market including certain supplements.

Vitamin C

Ciznext D Tablets that help with increasing platelet counts while also keeping your cells healthy and getting rid of certain diseases. It helps with developing better healthy immune resistance and protecting against viral replication. Along with this, it assists in fighting off respiratory problems, coughs, & colds. It is vegetarian and safe to consume for those who practise that lifestyle.

Vitamin B-12

Melts’ Vegan Vitamin B-12 supplements with the unison effect formula boost energy naturally, improve nerve function, and promote cognitive health. Other than contributing to increasing platelet count it also boosts metabolism, improves heart health, and reduces fatigue.

Vitamin D

Melts’ also offers Vitamin D supplements that are made from plant-based ingredients and rapid dissolving oral thin strips that deliver a healthy dose of vitamins by ‘melting’ in your mouth. It counters the effects of vitamin D deficiency in your body and helps with anxiety, depression, platelet count, stronger bones and teeth.

When a doctor shall be consulted regarding platelet count

A doctor should immediately be consulted either in person or online when one experiences persisting symptoms of either increased or decreased platelet production. It is a good time to see the doctor when there is an unusual bruise that comes out of nowhere, red and purple dots below the skin, heavy menstrual cycle, red or pink urine, severe headaches, and extreme fatigue. In cases of increased platelet count, one must look out for bleeding mouth and gums, bloody stool, nosebleeds, confusion, disorientation, intense pain in the limbs, nausea, and in some cases even seizures.

Medical treatments to increase platelet count

Treatment for increasing platelet count may include several approaches, such as medications to boost your platelet count or certain surgery to extract your spleen (splenectomy). Consult your doctor about the risks and benefits involved. One might find the side-effect worse to deal with than the issues caused by the low platelet count. The doctor might prescribe you medications like steroids, immune globulin, romiplostim (Nplate) and eltrombopag (Promacta) which also increase the risk of blood clots. Rituximab (Rituxan, Truxima) also helps increase your platelet count by reducing the immune system response which affects your platelets. But this could also reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations, which might be a problem if you later choose to surgically remove your spleen.

Conclusion

While it may not seem relevant in everyday life, platelet count sure does influence it. Paying attention to what you put in your body can be a matter of life and death and not paying heed to medical advice at the right time can prove to be fatal. Low or high platelet count can be treated under the right medical supervision.

FAQs

What are platelets?

Platelets are the cells that circulate within our blood and bind together when they recognize damaged blood vessels.

What is it called when your body produces too many platelets?

Thrombocytosis

Which foods are rich in iron?

Red meat, pork and poultry, seafood, beans, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, dried fruits, and peas.

Which are the foods one must avoid when trying to increase platelet count?

The food that must be avoided if you want to increase your platelet count is alcohol, aspartame, cranberry juice, and quinine.

What is the fastest way to increase platelet count?

Improving your diet will help you increase platelet count faster than any other means. On the other hand, you can also include certain supplements meant for platelet count.