How to Treat Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytes (platelets), microscopic fragments of cells produced in your bone marrow, circulate in your blood and function in the blood clotting process. Thrombocytopenia is the medical term for a lowered thrombocyte count. Many factors can lower your platelet count including diseases such as dengue and leukemia, defective platelet production, bone disease and viral infections. If left untreated, thrombocytopenia can cause gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding. Thrombocytopenia is treated based on its severity. By employing the medical and nutritional remedies below, you can safely and effectively increase your platelet count.

Instructions

Medical Treatment

1

Take prescribed corticosteroids. These drugs can increase your platelet count in days. The recommended dosage in syrup form is 5ml once daily, preferably with food.

2

Get a platelet transfusion, if required. Depending on how low your blood platelets are, you may need a transfusion. Your physician will determine your need depending on your platelet count.

3

Have a surgical splenectomy, if recommended. Surgery to remove your spleen may be necessary if you have thrombocytopenia due to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a condition in which antibodies destroy platelets.

4

Revise your chemotherapy treatment, if necessary. If chemotherapy is producing thrombocytopenia, your doctor may suspend chemotherapy or set longer intervals between treatments to allow your platelet levels to recover.

Nutritional Treatment

5

Eat plenty of berries. All berries contain powerful compounds called phytonutrients, which neutralize free radicals in your body to help you increase your platelet count. Consume 1 cup of berries every day.

6

Consume foods rich in the fatty acid omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acid strengthens your immune system while helping your bone marrow create more platelets. Walnuts, spinach and flax seed contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acid. Add these types of food to your diet every day.

7

Eat plenty of organic tomatoes. Tomatoes contain the potent antioxidant lycopene, which helps increase platelets. They are also high in minerals and vitamins. Consume tomato-based foods daily.

8

Take vitamin C tablets. This water-soluble vitamin is readily absorbed by your body and can quickly restore your platelet count. You can also eat vitamin-rich foods such as oranges, kiwi fruit and cabbage. The recommended dosage of vitamin C is 500mg once a day.

9

Consume papaya leaves in juice form. The leaves of the papaya fruit are high in complex vitamins that help your bone marrow to increase blood platelet production rapidly. Puree 2 cups of papaya leaves in a blender and drink this mixture once a day.