A person with a low platelet count can bleed or bruise very easily. Platelets are necessary to stop the bleeding of a simple cut or scrape.

They work to plug small holes (leaks) in the body that are bleeding. Platelets are actually a type of blood cell. They stick together to form a mass that stops a cut from bleeding.

The normal range for platelets in the blood is : 162 - 380 K/mm3
(162 - 300 thousand platelets per cubic millimeter of blood)

You can have a blood test done to determine your level of platelets. The test for platelets is also part of a CBC (complete blood count).

The condition of not having enough platelets is known as: Thrombocytopenia.

Aside from prolonged bleeding, a person with thrombocytopenia may suffer from nose bleeds, gum bleeding, blood in the stool, brown or red colored urine as well as increased vaginal bleeding.

If you are suffering from this condition, avoid any products that contain aspirin, which can worsen bleeding. Aspirin interferes with the normal function of blood platelets.

There are many products that contain aspirin, so be sure to read labels carefully.

Also, be sure to check with your doctor before taking any other type of medication to make sure that the medication won’t worsen your situation.

As far as for what to do about a low platelet count, you should be working with your doctor. If you know you have this problem and you are not working with your doctor, you need to find a doctor right away to provide proper diagnosis and treatment.

This condition could be a rather serious, so be sure to be working with a doctor.

Also, your doctor will need to find the underlying cause of your low platelet count and rule out or find a number of disease conditions. Often times low platelet counts are due to auto-immune problems. ( your body may be producing antibodies that destroy the platelets).

As you can guess, this is serious stuff, hence you are reminded yet again to see your doctor.

Some additional precautions to take until your count returns to normal are:

• Use a soft bristled tooth brush and do NOT floss.
• Do not engage in any sport activities, especially contact sports.
• Wear shoes all the time (even indoors)
• If you have to blow your nose, do it as gently as possible.
• Switch to an electric shaver instead of a razor to avoid the little nicks that could lead to a lot of bleeding.
• Get with your doctor to learn about foods you should avoid. He can also tell you what foods to eat to avoid constipation.
• Do not use enemas, suppositories or rectal thermometers

If this is a long-term chronic problem that your doctor is aware of, under his guidance, you might be permitted to try:

1. Increased dosages of vitamin C.

2. Echinacea

3. Bee Propilus

4. St. John’s Wort

5. Bupleurum ( a Chinese herb)

Again, check with your doctor. This condition is not to be trifled with.

Ask Dave About Health.