One of the important indicators in the analysis of blood are the values of hemoglobin and platelets. And a deviation of these indicators from the norm may indicate the presence of certain diseases. It is worthwhile to learn more about low hemoglobin and high platelets in an adult and a child.
Platelets and hemoglobin. Their role in the life of the body
Platelets are produced in the bone marrow and are part of the body’s recovery mechanism after various injuries. These cells form a blood clot at the site of damage, which prevents blood loss. If the presence of these cells in the blood is insufficient (less than 100 g / l), then the loss of blood as a result of trauma can be significant. If the platelet count is increased (more than 400 g / l), then this significantly increases the risk of blood clots. Hemoglobin, which is contained in blood cells (erythrocytes), is an important part of the mechanism that supports human life, as it binds and transports oxygen to the body’s tissues.
It is considered normal if in men it is in the range of 130-160 g / l. For women, its normal value is in the range of 120–147 g / l. A particular volume of hemoglobin and platelets may inform the doctor about the presence of pathology (deviations) in the process of hematopoiesis. The most common such deviation is a low level of hemoglobin with a high value of platelets in the blood.
Platelet volume
The causes of low hemoglobin and high platelets are as follows:
- Immune system disease. With this disease, their own tissues begin to be perceived as foreign and deliberately destroyed.
- Infectious diseases. To accelerate the restoration of damaged organs, platelet production is increased.
- Taking certain medications.
- Failure in the mechanism of hematopoiesis. The bone marrow begins to produce, for no apparent reason, too many platelets.
- After a large-scale surgical intervention. And the more tissue was damaged as a result of the operation, the more the body will develop these blood cells to recover.
Decreased hemoglobin in the blood
Known factors contributing to the reduction of hemoglobin:
- The accumulation of toxic substances in the body.
- Digestive system diseases.
- With dehydration. In this case, the bone marrow cannot produce the necessary volume of red blood cells, since it does not have enough water to create them.
- With significant blood loss, including internal.
- With blood diseases.
A decrease in hemoglobin with an increase in platelet volume
High platelets and low hemoglobin in women, men and children also cause:
- Impaired liver function (liver failure).
- Infectious diseases.
- The result of the use of certain types of medicines (antibiotics, medicines containing hormones, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
As you can see, one of the reasons for the occurrence of high hemoglobin and low platelets in a child and an adult may be the transfer of an infectious disease, in the treatment of which the above drugs were used. Therefore, such a deviation is temporary and the values of platelets and hemoglobin will return to normal after complete recovery of the body.
A decrease in hemoglobin with high platelet values can also be a natural reaction of the female body to an increase in blood loss during menstruation, at the end of which the platelet volume increases. But in most cases, a combination of a low hemoglobin in the blood and a high platelet count indicates a chronic disease.
Hemoglobin increase
There are a number of measures that increase hemoglobin:
- Increased consumption of foods containing high amounts of iron (meat, liver, legumes, seaweed, dried apples, and others).
- Restoring normal water balance in the body.
- Increased physical activity (moderate sports, walks in the fresh air).
- Adequate sleep and rest.
Platelet lowering
The presence of an increased platelet content in the blood is of particular danger, since it carries a latent threat to human life - the appearance of blood clots. As a result of their separation from the walls of the vessels, the pulmonary artery may overlap, which will lead to the cessation (complete or partial) of oxygen supply to the tissues (pulmonary thromboembolism). And also a large number of blood clots can lead to a stroke and to abnormalities in the work of the heart. Therefore, if a high platelet value is detected during a blood test, measures must be taken to quickly return this indicator to normal.
The following measures help normalize platelet count:
- Reducing the volume of these blood cells is achieved by taking certain medications. The simplest drug that destroys these cells is aspirin. But it has a number of side effects, so it may not be an ideal way to solve this problem.
- There are safer drugs, the active substances of which, after the destruction of platelets, are excreted unchanged from the body (Bivalirudin, Argatroban, Aspekard, Warfarin and others). Platelet-lowering drugs should be taken as prescribed by your doctor.
- An increase in the presence of certain foods in food: garlic, fish oil, cherries, viburnum, celery, lemon and others.
A blood test allows you to timely detect abnormalities in the process of hematopoiesis and to take the necessary measures in advance.