How to Decrease the Number of Platelets: 12 Steps

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How to Decrease the Number of Platelets: 12 Steps
How to Decrease the Number of Platelets: 12 Steps

Video: How to Decrease the Number of Platelets: 12 Steps

Video: How to Decrease the Number of Platelets: 12 Steps
Video: Infinite Ingrown | Doctorly #shorts 2024, March
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Platelets are so small that they make up only a tiny fraction of the total blood volume. Their function is mainly to prevent bleeding by clotting the blood. However, in rare cases, some people develop a condition in which the bone marrow produces too much platelets. This can lead to the formation of large blood clots, which can worsen your health, causing strokes or heart problems. Start with step 1 below for more information on how to lower the number of platelets in your blood through diet, lifestyle, and medical means.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Through Diet and Lifestyle

Decrease Platelets Step 1
Decrease Platelets Step 1

Step 1. Eat raw garlic to lower the number of platelets in your blood

Raw or crushed garlic contains a compound called "allicin" that affects the body's ability to produce platelets, thereby decreasing the number of these cells in the blood.

  • Your body responds to the reduced level of platelets by improving your immunity, which helps protect your body from any foreign objects (such as viruses and bacteria) that get into it.
  • Garlic's allicin content quickly decreases with cooking, so try consuming it raw. Eating raw garlic can give some people an upset stomach: eat it with other foods.
Decrease Platelets Step 2
Decrease Platelets Step 2

Step 2. Take gingko biloba to reduce blood viscosity

It contains substances called "terpenoids" which reduce blood viscosity, thinning the blood and preventing clots from forming.

  • Ginkgo biloba also helps improve blood circulation and increases the body's production of warfarin, helping to dissolve clots.
  • Gingko biloba is available as a supplement in both liquid and tablet form. You can purchase the supplement at a pharmacy or health food store.
  • If you can get ginkgo biloba leaves, you can boil them in water for five to seven minutes and drink them as tea.
Decrease Platelets Step 3
Decrease Platelets Step 3

Step 3. Use ginseng to prevent clots from forming

Ginseng contains "ginsenosides", which help to reduce platelet clumping, thus preventing clots from forming.

  • Ginseng is available as a capsule at pharmacies and health food stores. It is often added to energy drinks and foods.
  • Ginseng causes insomnia and nausea in some people, so test it for a while to see how your body reacts to it.
Decrease Platelets Step 4
Decrease Platelets Step 4

Step 4. Eat pomegranates for their anti-platelet effects

They contain substances called polyphenols, which have an anti-platelet effect -- this means they reduce your body's production of platelets and prevent existing platelets from clotting.

You can eat fresh pomegranate fruits, drink the juice or add fruit extract to your meals

Decrease Platelets Step 5
Decrease Platelets Step 5

Step 5. Eat seafood rich in omega-3s to inhibit platelet production

Omega-3 fatty acids affect platelet activity, thinning the blood and reducing the chances of clotting. Omega-3 is abundant in seafood such as tuna, salmon, scallops, sardines, shellfish and herring.

  • Try to include two to three servings of these fish per week to consume the recommended weekly amount of omega-3s.
  • If you don't like fish, you can increase your omega-3 intake by consuming 3000 to 4000 mg of fish oil supplements a day.
Decrease Platelets Step 6
Decrease Platelets Step 6

Step 6. Drink red wine to reduce the chances of clots forming

Red wine contains flavonoids derived from the skin of the grapes used in its production. These substances prevent the overproduction of cells in the lining of arterial walls (a process caused by excess platelets in the blood). This reduces the chances of clot formation.

  • There is a unit of alcohol in a standard half glass of wine (about 175,000). Men should not drink more than 21 units of alcohol a week, not more than four a day.
  • Women should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, not more than three a day. Both men and women should have at least two alcohol-free days per week.
Decrease Platelets Step 7
Decrease Platelets Step 7

Step 7. Eat fruits and vegetables that contain salicylates, which help to thin the blood

They also help prevent clotting. These substances also stimulate the body's immunity and help maintain a normal platelet count.

  • Vegetables that contain salicylates include cucumbers, mushrooms, zucchini, radishes and alfalfa.
  • Fruits that contain salicylates include all kinds of berries, cherries, raisins and oranges.
Decrease Platelets Step 8
Decrease Platelets Step 8

Step 8. Add cinnamon to your dishes to reduce platelet clumping

Cinnamon contains a compound called "cinnamaldehyde", which is known to reduce platelet clumping and thus blood clotting.

Add ground cinnamon to breads and cakes or steamed vegetables. You can also try boiling a cinnamon stick and drinking it as tea

Decrease Platelets Step 9
Decrease Platelets Step 9

Step 9. Stop smoking to prevent blood clots

Smoking poses a high risk of developing clots due to several harmful compounds found in cigarettes (such as nicotine). Smoking causes the blood to thicken and platelets to clump together.

  • Serious health problems, such as heart problems and strokes, often occur as a result of blood clots. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to prevent these clots from even forming.
  • Quitting smoking is difficult and is not something done overnight.
Decrease Platelets Step 10
Decrease Platelets Step 10

Step 10. Drink coffee for its anti-platelet effect

Coffee has anti-platelet properties, which means that it reduces the number of platelets in the blood and prevents them from clumping together.

The anti-platelet effect of coffee is not due to caffeine, but to phenolic acids. So you can still benefit from this effect when drinking decaffeinated coffee

Method 2 of 2: Through medications and medical procedures

Decrease Platelets Step 11
Decrease Platelets Step 11

Step 1. Take anticoagulant medication as prescribed by your doctor

Under certain circumstances, your doctor may prescribe anticoagulants. They reduce blood viscosity and prevent platelet clumping and clot formation. Some of the most frequently prescribed medications include:

  • Aspirin
  • Hydroxyurea
  • Anagrelide
  • alpha interferon
  • Busulfan
  • Pipobroman
  • Phosphorus - 32
Decrease Platelets Step 12
Decrease Platelets Step 12

Step 2. Go through a procedure called plateletpheresis

In emergency circumstances, your doctor may recommend a treatment known as plateletpheresis, which quickly reduces the number of platelets in your blood.

  • During plateletpheresis, an intravenous line is inserted into one of your veins to remove blood from your body. This blood is then passed through a machine that removes the platelets.
  • Platelet-free blood is fed back into the body through a second intravenous line.

Tips

  • To measure your platelet count, a sample of your blood will be taken and sent to a laboratory for testing. A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 350,000 per microliter of blood.
  • Dark chocolate is thought to inhibit platelet production, so try to eat a bite or two after dinner every night.

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