00:00So, you'll have thrombocytopenia.
00:02Your platelet count is low.
00:04Well, is it time to rush to the emergency room?
00:07What do platelets do?
00:09Your platelet count leaves your doctor to tell you to avoid alcohol one day,
00:14and he calls the emergency medical services on the other.
00:19The same platelets, but a different day.
00:23Why does he remain casual on one day and react with concern on the next?
00:28First of all, let's take a quick look at what these tiny cells do in the body.
00:35Platelets are small blood cells that are essential for the clotting of blood
00:40and initiating wound healing in the body.
00:43I'm sure that by now, you've heard of people who use platelet-rich plasma
00:50to treat a variety of conditions.
00:53Platelets are made in the bone marrow from large cells called megakaryocytes.
00:59Platelets survive from 8 to 10 days, then they're removed by the spleen.
01:05Because platelets are produced in the bone marrow,
01:09deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin B12 and folate
01:13may impair their production and lead to a low platelet count.
01:17Copper deficiency may also cause low platelet counts.
01:23A lack of vitamins or minerals is not the only cause of a low platelet count.
01:29If platelets are being destroyed too quickly,
01:32this can also lead to thrombocytopenia.
01:36In certain chronic autoimmune diseases,
01:39antibodies attach to the platelets and destroy them.
01:42This is called immune thrombocytopenic pulpura, or ITP.
01:49On other occasions, platelets are over-consumed
01:53by widespread clotting in the body.
01:57When patients lie in a hospital for long periods,
02:00doctors give them a small dose of heparin to prevent blood clotting.
02:06This can bind platelets and other proteins in the blood,
02:11leading to their destruction.
02:14If that happens,
02:16doctors must then rush to stop all doses of heparin
02:20to prevent paradoxical clotting of blood.
02:24Certain severe infections,
02:27particularly those associated with toxin production,
02:30can trigger widespread clotting in small blood vessels,
02:34leading to the consumption of platelets
02:37and a drop in their levels.
02:40On rare occasions,
02:42platelet production may be suppressed in the bone marrow.
02:45Several medications can cause this,
02:48including antibiotics such as ampicillin or sulfoninates.
02:53Some people taking herbs or supplements
02:57may be surprised to find that their supplements
03:00might be contributing to their thrombocytopenia.
03:05Substances such as ginseng and quinine found in tonic drinks
03:09have been associated with a low platelet count.
03:13Chronic alcohol consumption
03:15is a frequent cause of thrombocytopenia.
03:19Now, how does a patient with thrombocytopenia present?
03:25Depending on the severity of the thrombocytopenia,
03:29patients can present in different ways.
03:31People with mild thrombocytopenia,
03:34between 100 and 150,000 platelets per microliter,
03:39usually have no symptoms.
03:42Patients at this level can enjoy normal lifestyles,
03:46going for walks and picnics in the park
03:49without even knowing that their platelet level is low.
03:52When the level falls to a moderate range,
03:56from 50,000 to 100,000 per microliter,
04:01patients may experience easy bruising
04:03and discoloration of the skin called petechiae or purpura.
04:08Imagine a three-day bruise that goes from blue to purple to yellow.
04:15Severe thrombocytopenia, below 50,000,
04:19may cause bleeding during surgery.
04:22Or, from other wounds.
04:24Very severe thrombocytopenia is a medical emergency.
04:31Patients with platelet counts of 10,000 or less
04:34can experience spontaneous and potentially fatal bleeding in the brain.
04:41Frequent nosebleeds that are difficult to stop
04:44may also occur at this level.
04:48Now, that is why, on one day,
04:50your doctor might advise less alcohol
04:53and avoidance of tonic drinks,
04:55and on another day,
04:57call emergency medical services.
05:00In the first case,
05:02your platelet count may be mildly decreased.
05:05In the second,
05:06it may have dropped to dangerously low levels
05:09requiring urgent treatment.
05:11The key takeaway is this.
05:15A low platelet count is not always an emergency.
05:20But, when it is accompanied by frequent nosebleeds,
05:24headaches, or spontaneous skin or mucosal bleeding,
05:28you should seek immediate medical attention.
05:33Recognizing the difference can be life-saving.
05:37I hope you liked the video.
05:39I hope you found it useful.
05:40If you did,
05:41like, share the video with your friends and family.
05:44You can support this channel by subscribing.
05:47Until the next video,
05:48stay healthy and stay safe.
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