Cause of Low Platelets

According to Doctors, your bloodstream typically contains between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. Platelets are an important player of your circulatory system, as they produce clots that help stop bleeding. Since the average lifespan of a blood platelet is only 10 days, the body constantly produces new platelets in your bone marrow. Glitches in this process can result in a low platelet count, also known as thrombocytopenia.

Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a common cause of low platelets. This is called gestational thrombocytopenia (GT). Though the etiology behind GT is unknown, according to a  M.D., 5 percent of women will experience the problem, usually towards the end of the pregnancy.

Auto-Immune Disorders
Auto-immune disorders are another common cause of low platelets in the blood. Auto-immune disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis cause low blood platelet counts when the body's immune system mistakes platelets as foreign invaders and destroys them.

Blood Poisoning
Blood poisoning can also cause blood platelets to drop. Poisoning from infection causing bacteria (bacteremia) can quickly kill of platelets and may also cause difficulties producing new platelets to replace those that have been destroyed.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Hemolytic uremic syndrome, although rare, can cause a dramatic and dangerous drop in blood platelets. This syndrome is often caused by the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, which can kill off platelets, impair the abilities of the kidneys to function and also destroy red blood cells.

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is another rare disorder that may cause a low blood platelet count. TTP is a disorder that causes large amounts of blood clots to form throughout the body uncontrollably. Since blood clots require platelets to form and all the clots form at once, the disorder uses up most of the platelets available in the bloodstream all at once. This disorder is extremely life threatening, as a single blood clot can become loose and lodge in the brain or heart, causing a stroke or heart attack.

Causes of Low Blood Platelet Count

Some of the reasons for a drop in blood platelets are:

The bone marrow does not produce enough platelets.
A condition where the body uses and destroys platelets even when the marrow produces enough.
A problematic spleen could also deplete the platelets from your blood.
Illnesses that damage a person’s stem cells can also be blamed for a low platelet count. This includes illnesses like lymphoma, leukemia, and AIDS.
Certain treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy also reduce the platelets.
Alcohol abuse, Chemical exposure is another probable reason for this problem.
Dengue fever decreases the amount of white blood cells, exposing you to illness. The classic dengue fever lasts for about 6-7 days. The platelet count will drop till body temperature comes to normal.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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