Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Work to Improve Your Overall Health
• Part 2 of 2: Expanding Knowledge
• Tips

Platelets are blood cells whose main function is to create blood clots necessary to stop bleeding. The causes of low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) are due to various factors, including pregnancy, food allergies, chemotherapy, and dengue fever. If tests show you have thrombocytopenia, be sure to talk to your doctor.Under the supervision of a doctor, you can try to raise your platelet levels using natural remedies.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Work to Improve Your Overall Health

1. 1 Eat healthy foods. Try to diversify your diet. There are many diets that you can follow to increase your platelet count. However, and this is above all, the foods you eat must be healthy.
   • You've probably heard this before: eat more fresh fruits and vegetables; include lean meats and whole grains in your menu; reduce your intake of starch and sugar; Keep your intake of saturated and trans fats to a minimum. eliminate processed foods.
   • You need to get the most out of the foods you eat. Include nutrient-dense foods such as fresh vegetables in your diet. Don't fill your daily menu with cookies and buns. Remember, your body needs to get the most out of the food you eat.
2. 2 Your goal is to get the maximum amount of nutrients. Again, each diet focuses on certain foods. Therefore, ask your doctor or dietitian to help you develop a nutritional system that will help you increase your platelet count. The following are essential nutrients that everyone should eat in a healthy diet, regardless of their platelet count:
   • Vitamin K normalizes blood clotting and has anti-inflammatory properties (inflammation can cause platelet destruction). Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, broccoli, and kale. Cook these vegetables in such a way as to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients. Eggs and liver are also good sources of vitamin K.
   • Folic acid (Vitamin B9) plays an important role in the process of cell division (remember that platelets are also cells); low folate can help reduce platelet count. Folate-rich foods: asparagus, oranges, spinach, fortified (whole grains, low sugar) cereals. These foods should be an integral part of your diet. You can take vitamin complexes as directed by your doctor.
   • Include in your diet foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which strengthen the immune system and have anti-inflammatory properties. Include fish, seaweed, walnuts, flaxseed oil, and eggs in your diet. In addition, consuming omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, omega-3 fatty acids inhibit platelet aggregation, so these acids are contraindicated in the case of thrombocytopenia.
3. 3 Reduce your intake of unhealthy foods. High-calorie foods with low nutritional value, such as refined grains (such as white bread) and sweets (cakes, biscuits, and so on), provide little benefit to the body and may increase inflammation.
   • Alcohol abuse can damage the bone marrow and reduce platelet production. Therefore, reduce or eliminate alcoholic beverages if you want to increase your platelet count.
   • Gluten-sensitive enteropathy and celiac disease (gluten intolerance) are autoimmune disorders that can negatively affect platelet production. Pass the necessary tests and if these diseases are identified, eliminate gluten from your diet.
4. 4 Exercise. However, don't overdo it. Cardio, such as walking or swimming, and strength training promote good blood circulation and strengthen the immune system, which is very important if you have thrombocytopenia.
   • However, you need to be careful. People with thrombocytopenia get tired very quickly. Fatigue and strain can lead to injury.
   • Take special care when doing exercises that increase the risk of bleeding (not only external but also internal). Remember, a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood is accompanied by a decrease in the rate of its clotting.
   • Exercise extreme caution in sports such as basketball and ice skating. Better, if possible, give up such activities altogether. Protect yourself from scratches, cuts, bruises. Even if you are just doing walking, choose the right clothes and shoes for the activity.
   • Talk to your doctor about medications that increase your risk of bleeding. These drugs include acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin).
5. 5 Get enough rest. Seven to nine hours of sleep is recommended for adults, regardless of platelet count. However, if you have thrombocytopenia, you need more rest.
   • People with thrombocytopenia are more likely to experience fatigue. Therefore, you need to organize your day so that you can rest when tired. Check with your doctor about this.
6. 6 Drink plenty of water. Everyone understands that we need to drink a lot, and only a few of us drink as much water as necessary. This will help your body to function properly, which is extremely important if you have thrombocytopenia.
   • On average, an adult should drink two to three liters of water daily. Make it a goal to drink 8 glasses a day.
   • Some people drink warm or hot water to raise platelet levels, as cold water slows down the digestion process and interferes with the absorption of nutrients. In any case, water, regardless of the temperature regime, will not harm, but will only improve your health.
7. 7 Maintain a positive attitude. This is good advice for anyone suffering from a medical condition such as thrombocytopenia.
   • Of course, it is difficult to quantify the benefits of a positive attitude in quantitative terms, but trust me - if you follow this advice, you will not harm your health.

Part 2 of 2: Expanding Knowledge

1. 1 Learn all about platelets. If you cut yourself or, say, you have nosebleeds, platelets take over. In the event of a "breakdown" of the vessel, platelets are grouped, forming a blood clot, preventing its further outflow.
   • The average lifespan of platelets is about 10 days. Normally, the number of platelets in a healthy body should be 150,000–400,000 per microliter of blood.
   • If your test says your platelet count is 150, that means you have 150,000 platelets per microliter of blood.
2. 2 Think about the factors that can contribute to thrombocytopenia in your case. Many reasons can lead to a decrease in platelet count. Thrombocytopenia is a condition characterized by a decrease in the number of platelets below 150.
   • Such reasons include disorders of the immune system, leukemia (since platelets are produced in the bone marrow), chemotherapy (in which platelets are destroyed), pregnancy (due to stress on the body's systems), and many others.
   • Symptoms of thrombocytopenia may include fatigue, a tendency to bleeding from the skin, prolonged bleeding, bleeding from the gums and nose, blood in the urine or stool, and red, flat, pinhead-sized spots on the skin of the legs and feet.
   • If you have these symptoms, check with your doctor. Your doctor may recommend that you undergo additional testing.
3. 3 Collaborate with your doctor. If you have a low platelet count and the cause is not fully understood, you may need to undergo additional testing. For example, malfunctioning of the spleen can lead to thrombocytopenia.
   • Usually, doctors can quickly identify the cause of thrombocytopenia, and in some cases, timing may be the best treatment (for example, if the cause is pregnancy). However, be sure to check with your doctor.
   • Ask your doctor about natural therapies for thrombocytopenia that can help you normalize your platelet count. The doctor will be able to assess your condition and prescribe the necessary treatment.
   • Please note that you should not try to raise your platelet count on your own without consulting your doctor.
4. 4 If necessary, get medication prescribed by your doctor. While you may be able to raise your platelet count naturally, in some cases, medications are essential. Typically, this treatment includes:
   • Treating the underlying cause of the condition; for example, replacing heparin with another drug if it causes thrombocytopenia. You should not stop taking these medications, especially if you have cardiovascular disease.
   • A platelet transfusion increases the number of these cells in the blood.
   • Medications such as corticosteroids. Steroids can decrease the activity of the body's immune system. Since steroids weaken the immune system, they also decrease the activity of the autoimmune-dependent factor that causes thrombocytopenia. However, a weakened immune system can increase the risk of infectious diseases, so be sure to check with your doctor.
   • Surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy), if the reason lies in the malfunction of this organ.
   • Plasmapheresis, which is usually only used in severe cases and emergencies.
5. 5 Don't jump to conclusions. Evaluate the information correctly. There are countless websites with diverse opinions on how to increase platelet counts naturally. As a rule, these sites contain highly conflicting information. Therefore, it is best to consult your doctor.
   • For example, you may find conflicting information about the benefits of milk for patients with thrombocytopenia.
   • There is, in truth, little scientific evidence that diet can affect platelet levels. Scientific evidence suggests that dietary changes can delay platelet reduction.
   • Does this mean that there is simply no way out? No, it just means that you should be realistic about your expectations and follow your doctor's recommendations.

Tips

• Be sure to check with your doctor before using any of these products. Your doctor should monitor the treatment process because you may have other pre-existing conditions that may be affected by changes in diet or lifestyle. If your condition worsens, you may need immediate medical attention.
• Before taking large numbers of pills, make sure they are effective. A commonly used method is blind tests, in which half of the participants receive the test drug and the other a placebo. Make sure the medicine is patented. You can check this in the state register of medicines.