Would you like to know exactly what platelets are in your blood?

Have you ever had a small wound and a little blood flowed, and then it stopped on its own? Or have you heard that when you get dengue, your platelets decrease? Those are the smallest, but very important heroes in our body, that is, blood platelets, which we are going to talk about in this article very simply. You will be surprised to know how valuable these are to our body!

Simply put, what are these platelets?

Okay, think about it this way. Our blood is not made up of just one thing. It is made up of three main types of cells. They are red blood cells, white blood cells, and the platelets we are talking about here. The smallest and lightest of these three are called platelets. Some people also call them `(Thrombocytes)`. They are so small that we cannot see them except through a microscope. When they are just there, that is, floating around in the blood without doing anything, they look like small pieces of plate. However, if a blood vessel is cut somewhere, if there is an injury, these platelets suddenly 'wake up' due to a signal from the injury . Then their shape changes, they take on the shape of an octopus with branches spread out, and they quickly rush to the site of the injury and begin to work to close it.

What is the main function of blood platelets?

The most important and main function of blood platelets is to prevent unnecessary bleeding . This is essential to save our lives. Imagine that your hand is cut by a knife. After a while, the bleeding stops, because thousands of these platelets gather together and stick together on the wound, forming a mesh, and "sealing" the wound. We call this process clotting . This ability is what saves our lives in major surgeries , organ transplants, and serious accidents. Also, the function of these platelets is very important when treating cancer patients.

Where are these platelets formed? How are they formed?

Platelets are produced in a soft, spongy part of our bones. We call this bone marrow . Platelets are made by very large cells called ``Megakaryocytes'' inside this bone marrow. These large cells break down into thousands (more than 1000) of smaller pieces to form platelets. The hormone `(Thrombopoietin)` mainly helps to control the production of these platelets. Once formed and added to the blood, the lifespan of a single platelet is between 8 and 10 days. Although these are broken cells, they contain many proteins that are needed to stop bleeding. They have proteins on their surface that act like glue. These are what help them stick to the wound and bind together with other platelets.

What is the platelet count of a healthy person?

Normally, a healthy adult should have between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter (a very small amount, about one millionth of a liter) of blood. You can find out exactly how many platelets you have with a complete blood count (CBC) test. Sometimes, these platelet counts can be lower or higher than normal. Neither of these conditions is good.

• Thrombocytopenia : A decrease in platelet count below 150,000. If this drops to a very low value of 10,000 - 20,000, even a small wound can cause excessive bleeding. Bleeding can occur from the nose or gums. This is also what happens in dengue fever.
• Thrombocytosis: A platelet count greater than 450,000. This can range from 500,000 to a million. When this happens, blood clots can form in the blood vessels , blocking blood flow to the heart or brain, leading to serious conditions such as heart attack and stroke .

If you notice any changes in your platelet count on your blood test report, it is very important to discuss it with your doctor .

Diseases that may occur related to platelets

In addition to low or high platelet counts, there are also cases where platelets are at the right level but not functioning properly. Let's take a look at the main conditions.

Where are platelets stored?

After being produced in the bone marrow, these platelets mostly float in the blood vessels. However, an organ in our body called the spleen stores about 25% of the platelets for use in emergencies. It's like a 'reserve tank'. In an emergency, such as a major hemorrhage, the spleen releases these stored platelets into the blood.

Can I donate blood platelets?

Yes, it is definitely possible. Just like donating blood, you can also donate only the platelets. This is a completely safe process . This is done under the supervision of trained medical staff. Platelets are especially essential in the treatment of cancer patients. Because, during treatments such as chemotherapy, the bone marrow can be damaged and platelet production can decrease. In such cases, platelets given externally can be of great help in saving the lives of those patients. Platelets, Platelets, Thrombocytes, Blood Clotting, Thrombocytopenia, Thrombocytosis, Bone Marrow, Complete Blood Count, CBC, Blood Donation