Thrombocytopenia : Do you have enough platelets in your blood?

When some one is having abnormally low levels of the platelets than the normal range then, it is called as thrombocytopenia. If you wondering why this name then, “thrombocytes” means platelets and “penia” means lack of something and if you put this terms together you will find your answer. When your blood has very few platelets, then mild to serious bleeding can occur. Now you must be guessing what are platelets?
Platelets are colourless blood cells which plays important role in clotting in turn preventing excessive blood loss by covering holes in the blood vessels. Bleeding can occur inside the body (internal bleeding) or underneath the skin or from the surface of the skin (external bleeding). The normal range of the blood platelet count is 1,50,000 to 4,50,000 per microliter. This platelet count can be carried out from an authentic diagnostic centre near by you. Thrombocytopenia can occur alone or can be develop as a complication of another disease, like cancer or a viral infection.

Why thrombocytopenia can occur?

• Platelet synthesis occurs in the bone marrow and sometimes it fails to produce ample amount of the platelets require by the body. 
• The bone marrow makes enough platelets, but the body destroys them(mostly by body’s immune system) or uses them up.
• Many platelets remain in the spleen. The spleen is an organ that normally stores about one-third of the body's platelets. It also helps your body fight infection and remove unwanted cell material.
• A combination of any of the above factors. 

Signs and Symptoms :

• Bleeding from nose or gums
• Severe Headaches
• Dizziness
• Pain in body joins
• Blood in the vomit
• Unexpected bruising
• Heavy bleeding during menstrual cycle
• Blood in stools and urine.

Diagnosis :

This is diagnosed with a simple blood test called a platelet count, which counts the number of platelets in a sample of blood also, doctor may ask for the medical history. If suspected further a doctor can ask you for complete blood count and peripheral blood smear.

Preventions and Management : 

• Excessive alcohol consumption is strictly avoided.
• Avoid taking drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen which are know to destroy platelets.
• Do not take any muscular injection when diagnosed with thrombocytopenia.
• Thrombocytopenia can be treated by curing underline disorder that cause low platelet count and if necessary platelet transfusion can be performed if required.

People whose platelet counts reduces when receiving chemotherapy can switch to a lower dose or wait longer between chemotherapy cycles. Also, some patients receiving chemotherapy may be given a drug called oprelvekin (Neumega) which helps to prevent severe thrombocytopenia. Because there is risk of bleeding, your doctor may delay any cancer surgery until your platelet counts are within normal range.

Hence, it is seen that regular preventive health check up can be a major contributor to restraining thrombocytopenia as this will help to regularly monitor blood platelets count.

Also, it will be a deciding step in timely diagnosis and pursuing proper treatment.