One way to increase platelet count is to increase your intake of foods that are rich in vitamin C, vitamin B12, folic acid or iron. Your doctor may also prescribe corticosteroids or blood transfusion to increase your platelet count, or even recommend a splenectomy in more life-threatening conditions.
A low platelet count can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, use of anticoagulants, autoimmune diseases or abnormal changes in bone marrow. Low platelets can be dangerous as it can lead to increased bleeding or hemorrhages.
To increase your platelet count safely, it is important to follow the treatment as guided by your doctor, as a treatment approaches may vary due to the underlying cause. by the hematologist, as it varies according to its cause.
Normal platelet count
The normal level of platelets in the blood is between 150,000 and 450,000/mm³ of blood. Values under 150,000/mm³ of blood are considered to be low.
It is important for your platelet results to be evaluated by a doctor, who will look at other test results to determine the underlying cause-
6 ways to increase platelet count
Some ways to increase platelets are:
1. Platelet-friendly foods
A balanced diet that is high in folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B12 or iron can promote platelet production, especially when a low platelet count is associated with a nutritional deficiency or anemia.
These nutrients can be found in foods like:
- Folic acid: cooked spinach or black beans, brewer's yeast, grilled beef or chicken liver;
- Vitamin B12: beef liver, egg, raw oysters, cooked mussels and grilled sardines;
- Iron: beef or chicken, fish and seafood;
- Vitamin C: orange, tangerine, pineapple, lemon, strawberry, melon, papaya, mango, kiwi, broccoli, tomato and watermelon.
Alcohol should also be eliminated from your diet, as it can reduce the optimal functioning of platelets.
To benefit from these foods to increase platelets in the blood, it is important that consumption is done under the guidance of a nutritionist or hematologist, on an individual basis.
2. Supplements
Another way to increase platelet count is to take supplements containing iron, vitamin B12, folic acid or vitamin C.
Deficiencies in these nutrients can reduce platelet, red blood cell and white blood cell production.
Iron is essential for blood cell production, and is especially beneficial for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Vitamin C can additionally help to increase the absorption of iron from food.
These supplements should be taken as guided by your doctor, as dosing and treatment duration may vary.
3. Medications
Medications may be prescribed by your doctor to treat autoimmune diseases that specifically lead to platelet destruction, like immune thrombocytopenic purpura or hemolytic uremic syndrome.
The main medications that may be prescribed in these cases are:
- Corticosteroids;
- Immunosuppressants;
- Monoclonal antibodies;
- Immunoglobulins.
Other medications that may be prescribed by the doctor are eltrombopag olamine or romiplostim, which are specifically indicated for increasing platelet count.
A low platelet count related to heparin use may warrant the discontinuation of this medication, and the substitution of others, like rivaroxaban, apixaban or antithrombin.
Low platelet counts caused by bone marrow cancer may require treatment with chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant.
Also recommended: Low Platelets: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment tuasaude.com/en/low-platelets4. Platelet transfusion
A platelet transfusion may be recommended by your doctor when platelets are severely low (below 20,000 cells/mm³ of blood), when the patient is bleeding profusely, or if the patient is at an increased risk for hemorrhaging.
Platelet transfusions are typically performed in a hospital setting, and last about 30 to 60 minutes.
5. Plasma exchange
A plasma exchange is a treatment that involves filtering the blood by removing antibodies or other blood components that may be causing blood clotting disorders.
This type of treatment, also referred to as a plasmapheresis, is most commonly indicated in cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or hemolytic uremic syndrome.
6. Spleen removal
The doctor may advised the surgical removal of the spleen if an enlarged spleen is contributing to the low platelet count.
In normal conditions, about a third of the platelets in the boy are stored in the spleen, and when this organ is enlarged, the number of platelets deposited in the spleen increases, which reduces the platelet count in the blood.