Are your blood platelets low? Let's learn about thrombocytopenia in simple terms!

Does it take a long time for the bleeding to stop when you get a small cut? Or do you just turn blue and form bruises without hitting anything on your body? If this has happened to you, it could be because you have a low platelet count . In medical terms, we call this condition Thrombocytopenia (pronounced “thrombo-cyto-penia”). Don’t worry, we’ll keep everything simple.

Simply put, what is Thrombocytopenia?

In addition to red blood cells and white blood cells , our blood contains another special type of cell, called platelets . Their main function is to help stop bleeding when we get injured. To be precise, they form a blood clot and stop the bleeding.

Now, Thrombocytopenia is when the number of platelets in our blood is lower than the required amount. These are made by our bone marrow . So, if the bone marrow does not produce enough platelets, or if the platelets that are produced are destroyed too quickly, this condition can occur. This can also be caused by things like certain diseases and medications.

How common is this condition?

In fact, many people have this condition at a very mild level. They may not even know they have it because they don't have any major symptoms. So it's hard to say exactly how common it is.

However, another related condition, Immune Thrombocytopenia , has been found to affect about 3-4 out of 100,000 children and adults. Also, about 5% of pregnant women may develop mild thrombocytopenia shortly before delivery.

What are the complications that can occur due to thrombocytopenia?

Severely low platelet counts can lead to dangerous conditions.

• Severe bleeding inside the body: Bleeding can occur from places like the stomach and intestines. Even more dangerous is bleeding inside the brain. This can be a life-threatening condition.
• Heart attack: A decrease in blood platelets can reduce the amount of blood flowing to the heart, increasing the risk of heart attack.

What are normal and low levels of blood platelets?

If you look at your blood report, you'll see that it lists your platelet count. Let's look at what normal levels and low levels are.

Do you also have these symptoms? Thrombocytopenia symptoms

People with mild platelet deficiency may not have any symptoms. However, when symptoms do appear, one of the first things you may notice is difficulty stopping bleeding from a small cut or nosebleed. Here are some other symptoms.

• Bleeding gums: You may notice blood on your toothbrush when brushing your teeth. Your gums may also appear swollen.
• Blood in the stool: The stool may turn very dark black.
• Blood in the urine: If the water in the toilet looks light pink after urinating, it could be because there is blood in the urine.
• Vomiting blood: This means that there is bleeding in the upper part of your abdomen.
• Heavy bleeding during menstruation: If your monthly period lasts more than 7 days, or if you bleed a lot more than usual, it could be a symptom.
• Petechiae:It looks like a rash of small red/purple dots on the legs, especially in the groin area.
• Purpura: Red, purple, or brown spots on the skin. This is caused by blood leaking from small blood vessels under the skin.
• Bruises: Bruises occur when blood collects under the skin. You may notice that you bruise more easily than usual.
• Rectal bleeding: You may notice blood on the toilet or while cleaning.

Why do blood platelets decrease like this? What are the causes?

The causes of low blood platelets can be divided into three main categories.

1. Your bone marrow is not making enough platelets: This can happen in blood cancer conditions like leukemia or lymphoma.

2. Even if enough platelets are produced by the bone marrow, they are quickly destroyed or used up: Due to some diseases, the amount of platelets produced quickly runs out.

3. Spleen retention of platelets: Normally, our spleen stores about one-third of our blood platelets. However, in some cases, it retains too many platelets.

A few specific reasons

• Autoimmune diseases: In diseases like Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) and Lupus, our own immune system attacks and destroys blood platelets.
• Blood cancers: Diseases like leukemia and lymphoma can damage the bone marrow and stop it from making blood platelets.
• Cancer treatments: Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can destroy the stem cells that would otherwise become platelets.
• Some blood diseases: In conditions like Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TPP), small blood clots form throughout the body, causing the platelets to deplete quickly.
• Infections: Bacterial and viral infections can also cause a low platelet count.
• Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol slows down the production of blood platelets.
• Toxic chemicals: Exposure to things like arsenic, benzene, and pesticides can also be affected.
• Some medications: Antibiotics, epilepsy medications, heart disease medications, and blood thinners like heparin can also cause this.

How do you find this, Doctor?

When you go to the doctor, he will first examine you. He will check for bruises, spots, etc. He will also ask about your medical history and the medications you are taking. Then he may ask you to do some tests like this.

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): This is a routine blood test. It checks the number of platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells in your blood.
• Peripheral Blood Smear: This involves examining your blood platelets under a microscope.
• Blood clotting tests: These measure how long it takes for your blood to clot (such as the PTT and PT tests).
• Bone Marrow Biopsy: If blood tests show that your platelets are very low and the cause is unclear, your doctor may decide to take a small sample of your bone marrow for testing.

What are the treatments for this?

If your low platelet count isn't causing any major problems, you probably won't need any treatment. Most of the time, doctors will treat the underlying cause of the condition. For example, if it's caused by a medication you're taking, they may be able to change that medication.

Other treatments are:

• Steroids: These drugs can increase blood platelet production.
• Blood Transfusion: If your platelet levels are very low, you may be given blood (platelets) to temporarily increase your platelet levels.
• Splenectomy: If tests show that your spleen is blocking too many platelets, your doctor may recommend surgical removal of your spleen. However, since removing the spleen increases your risk of infection, you will need to get vaccinated to protect yourself from it.

Things to consider when living with this condition

If you have thrombocytopenia, it is very important to make some small changes to your lifestyle.

• Healthy lifestyle: If you smoke, stop. If you drink alcohol, limit it. Maintain good dental health, as it can cause bleeding of the teeth and gums.
• Do not take medication without medical advice: Some painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin) have blood-thinning properties. Do not take any painkillers, supplements, or herbs without first consulting your doctor.
• Avoid activities that can cause bruising and bleeding: It's best to avoid contact sports like rugby and football. Ask your doctor about safe exercises that are suitable for you.
• Travel safely: Always wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle.
• Inform your doctors: If you are undergoing any surgery or tooth extraction, inform the doctor in advance that you have thrombocytopenia and the medications you are taking.

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