For the Platelets to function normally, we need to be physically healthy. However, in certain conditions, the Platelet count can reduce dramatically, which can be a problem for overall health.
Platelets, or thrombocytes, are small, colourless cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding.Plateletsare made in our bone marrow, the sponge-like tissue inside our bones. Bone marrow contains stem cells that develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, andPlatelets.
Platelets control bleeding in our bodies, so they can be essential to surviving surgeries such as organ transplants and fighting cancer, chronic diseases, and traumatic injuries. DonorPlateletsare given to patients who don't have enough of their own, a condition known as thrombocytopenia, or when a person's Platelets aren't working correctly. Raising the patient's blood Platelet count reduces the risk of dangerous or fatal bleeding.
How to Naturally Increase Platelet Count during Cancer Treatment
Also Read:How to increase platelet count in natural ways?
Platelets are the blood cells that help your blood clot. You may notice symptoms when your Platelet count is low, including fatigue, easy bruising, and bleeding gums. A lowPlateletcount is also referred to as thrombocytopenia.
Certain infections, leukaemia, cancer treatments,Alcoholabuse, liver cirrhosis, spleen enlargement, sepsis, autoimmune diseases, and certain medications can all cause thrombocytopenia.
If aBlood Testshows that yourPlateletcount is low, it's important to work with your healthcare practitioner to figure out what's causing it.
If you have mild thrombocytopenia, you may be able to raise yourPlateletcount through diet and supplements. However, if you have a severely lowPlateletcount, you'll likely need medical treatment to avoid complications.
The symptoms of a lowPlateletcount only occur when levels are particularly low. Mildly low levels often do not produce any symptoms. The symptoms include:
People who experience symptoms should contact their doctor immediately. LowPlateletcount can cause severe complications without treatment.
Also Read: Reasons for Low Platelet Count and Ways to Manage it During Cancer
LowPlateletcount is a major side effect ofCancer Treatment. Some types ofChemotherapycan damage bone marrow, reducingPlateletproduction. (This damage is usually temporary) Other times, cancer itself causes the problem. Leukaemia andLymphomacan invade the bone marrow and prevent the patient's body from producing thePlateletsit needs.
Without aPlatelettransfusion, these cancer patients face life-threatening bleeding.
Human blood contains different cells that serve various purposes. The cells include red blood cells, white blood cells andPlatelets.Plateletsare cells responsible for helping the blood clot if we cut ourselves or have any bleeding anywhere else.
For thePlateletsto function normally, we need to be physically healthy. However, in certain conditions, thePlateletcount can reduce dramatically, which can be a problem for overall health. If thePlateletcounts are low, it can result in minor bleeding from tiny cuts and bruises and catastrophic bleeding inside the gut or around the brain.
It is, therefore, essential to know how to increasePlateletcount either through medication or naturally. In this article, we shall briefly examine how you can increase thePlateletcounts in your blood through natural methods in various clinical conditions.
It is rather difficult to increase Platelet count through diet and exercise alone. Sometimes, certain conditions, such as dengue and viral fever, may require the infusion ofPlateletsas aPlatelettransfusion given intravenously to restore normalPlateletcounts.
That being said, if you want to increase Platelet counts naturally, the list of foods below should help you to some extent.
Green leafy vegetables are a source of vitamin K and are essential in the blood clotting pathway. But they also have a property as food to increasePlateletcount to some extent. In addition to just parsley, basil, spinach and celery, other vegetables such as asparagus, cabbage and watercress are also useful in increasingPlateletcount.Karam ki saag,or kale, is rich in vitamin K, which greatly promotesPlateletsin the blood. Thus, consumption of these and your daily vegetables can be expected to help greatly.
If you have a low bloodPlateletcount, there cannot be a better natural remedy than consuming papaya, which is probably the most well-known food to increasePlateletcount. If you want to increase Platelet count during dengue fever, then regularly consuming a glass or two of papaya leaf extract can do the trick. It is unclear how this works, but clinical trials have demonstrated a significant benefit of papaya leaf extract in increasingPlateletcounts in viral fever.
However, the juice of papaya leaf can be rather bitter, and some people experienceNauseaand possibly evenVomitingat times. In such a situation, oral medication in the form of capsules is now available in India that contains the same quantity of extract needed to boost Plateletcounts.
The pomegranate seeds are packed with iron and can improve blood counts tremendously. Pomegranate is now prescribed as a fruit that has to be consumed regularly if Platelet counts have to be increased. If you are looking for foods to increase Platelet count during malaria, try having a bowl of pomegranate fruit a couple of times a day to give you the boost you need. Not just that, pomegranate also contains numerous antioxidants and vitamin C, which can help boost immunity and help fight infections effectively.
Pumpkin is another food that has amazing properties of increasingPlateletcount. This is because it contains vitamin A, which can enhance the number of Platelets produced by the bone marrow.
Other vitamin A-rich foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes and kale are also beneficial. If you want to increaseyour Plateletcount during pregnancy, you may want to talk to your doctor about increasing your intake of these foods.
Wheatgrass contains high levels of chlorophyll that is structurally similar to the haemoglobin in our blood. It is extremely beneficial when it comes to boostingPlateletcount, but it has additional benefits of increasing the total quantity of red and white blood cells in the blood. Freshly madeWheatgrassjuice can be beneficial if you want foods to increasePlateletcount duringChemotherapy.
Also Read: Blood Cancer And Its Complications And Ways To Manage It
Being iron-rich foods, raisins help improve the RBC and Platelet count in patients. Conditions such as low Platelet count often occur due to iron deficiency. Including raisins as a part of your diet will help boost the iron levels in your body.
Loaded with healthy fats and other nutrients, coconut oil provides various health benefits. Adding edible-grade coconut oil to salads and using it for cooking helps increase the bloodPlateletcount.
More commonly known as Amla, consuming 3 to 4 Indian Gooseberries on an empty stomach every morning is highly useful in increasing the bloodPlateletcount. Apart from this, amla is also beneficial in boosting the immune system. Studies on dengue fever have recommended patients include amla juice as a diet.
For their high iron and essential mineral content, both beetroot and carrot help increase bloodplatelets. You can consume them any way you like, as salad, soup or juice.
Flax seeds, too, contain essential omega acids. FlaxSeedsare tasteless, but you could grind them and mix them with smoothies or soup or have flax seed oil. This helps in increasingPlateletcount.
Kiwi is another fruit rich in Vitamin C. Kiwi helps increase bloodPlateletcount though the effect may not be instantaneous.
Tomatoes are a rich source ofVitamin Cand antioxidants. Both these nutrients help in combating reduced bloodPlateletsin your body. Raw chunks or juice are the best tomatoes for this purpose.
Dates, too, are quite rich in iron and, at the same time, delicious to munch on. Throw a few into your fruit bowl every morning for a good dose of platelet-boosting nutrients. However, dates and raisins both have a high glycaemic index; therefore, too much of either is not advisable.
Iron is essential to your body's ability to produce healthy blood cells. A 2012 study Trusted Source also found that it increasedPlateletcounts in participants with iron-deficiency anaemia. Certain foods, including mussels, pumpkin seeds, and lentils, have high iron levels.
Vitamin C helps yourPlateletsgroup together and function efficiently. It also helps you absorb iron, which may help increasePlateletcounts. Vitamin C: Its Chemistry and Biochemistry book reported a rise inPlateletcount in a small group of patients who receivedVitamin Csupplementation.
Good sources ofVitamin Cinclude mangoes, pineapple, broccoli, green or red bell peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower
Folate is a B vitamin that helps your cells, including blood cells. It appears naturally in many foods, and it's added to others as folic acid. Sources of natural folate include peanuts, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, oranges etc.
Vitamin D contributes to the proper functioning of the bones, muscles, nerves, and immune system.
According to thePlateletDisorder Support Association (PDSA),Vitamin Dalso plays an essential role in the function of the bone marrow cells that producePlateletsand other blood cells.
Strict vegetarians and vegans can getVitamin Dfrom fortified breakfast cereals, fortified orange juice, fortified dairy alternatives, such as soy milk and soy yoghurt, supplements, and UV-exposedMushrooms.
Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and bone health. According to an informal PDSA survey, 26.98 per cent of people who took vitamin K reported improved plateletcounts and bleeding symptoms.
Foods rich in vitamin K include natto, a fermented soybean dish. Leafy greens, such as collards, turnip greens, spinach, kale, broccoli, soybeans and soybean oil. And pumpkin.
Foods to avoid
Certain foods and drinks can reducePlateletcounts
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