{"id":10072,"date":"2019-08-14T07:28:22","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T07:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=10072"},"modified":"2021-04-25T21:09:00","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T21:09:00","slug":"15-frequent-causes-of-low-platelets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-frequent-causes-of-low-platelets\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Frequent Causes of Low Platelets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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There are several blood disorders, including low platelets. Blood is comprised of several different cells. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are colorless blood cells. When part of the body becomes injured, the body sends a signal to the platelets, which join together, rush out to the site of the injury, spread over it, and form a clot. The clot stops the bleeding to prevent excessive blood loss. When platelet counts are low, a condition that is also referred to as thrombocytopenia, the blood does not clot effectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms include excessive bleeding, easy and excessive bruising, petechiae (a collection of small, red or purplish dots that resembles a rash), frequent nosebleeds, heavy menstruation, bloody in the urine and stools, and bleeding gums. The condition can be mild or severe, depending on the root cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several causes of thrombocytopenia; the following eight are the most common causes of this condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ITP is an autoimmune disease<\/a>. It can be mild or severe, and in some cases, it can be chronic. The immune system of people who have this condition mistakenly identifies the platelets as foreign objects, attacks them, and destroys them. The body produces enough platelets, but as they are produced, they are destroyed. As a result, the blood cannot effectively clot, which can lead to excessive bleeding, easy bruising, and all of the other symptoms mentioned above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ITP is a rare condition, but it\u2019s more common in women than men. ITP can occur as a result of an infection, such as hepatitis, HIV, or H. Pylori; it can also be idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown. If left untreated, ITP can become serious or even fatal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a variety of treatment options; prednisone (steroids), chemotherapy, and a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) are common treatments.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Leukemia.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A form of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood, people who are afflicted with leukemia <\/a>suffer from low platelet counts. This type of cancer occurs when the body produces an abnormally high amount of white blood cells at a very fast rate. There are several types of white blood cells; lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils are the most common and most important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The white blood cells (leukocytes), along with red blood cells and platelets, are produced in the bone marrow and play a vital role in the function of the immune system. They attack viruses, bacteria, and all types of germs that enter the body and fight off infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the bone marrow produces too many blood cells at a fast pace, it is unable to generate red blood cells and platelets. Those who have leukemia have high white blood cell counts and low platelet counts. 
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3. Chemotherapy.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While chemotherapy <\/a>can effectively kill cancer cells, it can also damage other healthy systems within the body. This form of cancer treatment often affects the bone marrow\u2019s ability to produce platelets; therefore, patients who are receiving chemotherapy often suffer from low platelet counts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemotherapy attacks and kills cells that are rapidly dividing within the body, which is why it is one of the most common treatments for cancer, as all types of cancer occur as a result of the rapid division of cells. However, while chemo effectively attacks and kills cancer cells, it also attacks and kills other cells that the body produces and rapidly divides, including those that are produced within the bone marrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The suppression of the bone marrow affects the cells that are produced within this spongy tissue, such as platelets; for this reason, patients who receive chemotherapy for cancer treatment often experience low platelet counts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Hepatitis C.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis C<\/a>, a condition that causes inflammation of the liver, is another common cause of low platelet counts. Hepatitis C is caused by a highly contagious virus, aptly named the hepatitis C virus or HCV. When someone contracts this virus, the blood becomes contaminated, and the hepatitis C infection spreads throughout the body. The infection attacks on the liver and inflames the organ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The liver is the largest internal organ and it plays the crucial role of processing blood and filtering out toxins that enter the body. It also generates proteins, which are components of the blood, as well as bile, which aids in digestion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The liver stores essential vitamins and glucose, as well. When the liver is inflamed, it\u2019s unable to perform these vital functions. Proteins are an essential component of platelets; hepatitis C impacts the liver\u2019s ability to produce proteins, hence why platelet production is minimized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Certain medications.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are certain medications <\/a>that can disrupt platelet counts. Some medications can affect the bone marrow\u2019s ability to produce these important blood cells, while others can destroy the blood cells after they are produced. Whether the cells are damaged or their production is reduced, these medications can lead to low platelet counts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two different types of thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) that occur as a result of medications: nonimmune and immune. Medications that interfere with the bone marrow\u2019s ability to produce platelets are referred to as nonimmune thrombocytopenia, while medications that increase the production of antibodies that attack and destroy platelets are known as immune thrombocytopenia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several medications that can cause low platelet counts, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n