Blood platelets are tiny cells that make up some part of the blood products and play an extremely important role in the process of blood clotting. The shape of platelets is very similar to small discs although they may slightly vary in appearance. Whenever an injury is sustained by the body, the platelets are rushed to the site along with certain vitamins, proteins and minerals in order to create a blood clot that will prevent any further loss of blood. The normal platelet count of the human body, or PLT, ranges from a hundred and fifty thousand to about four hundred and fifty thousand per micro liter of blood. If, as you say, your platelet count reads currently at four hundred and fifty, this is definitely not above the required level. The platelets present in the human body have a lifespan of about a week or a little longer. In most cases, PLT counts are taken by analysis on extracted blood which are often taken from veins on the opposite side of the elbow – causing individuals that have low pain tolerance levels a little hard to test. New advancements in technology have brought about other PLT reading methods such as voltage pulses and electro optical methods.
It is very important to understand the consequences of either high or low platelet count as, depending on the accuracy of your readings provided, you may be suffering from a severely inadequate platelet count. Lower than normal PLT counts can be a clear indication of medical conditions like aplastic anemia or thrombocytopenia. Certain medications that are commonly used in chemotherapy are also known to reduce platelet count. An irregularly high platelet count, on the other hand, could be indicative of thrombocytosis – a condition where the individual may suffer from irregular blood clotting. An abnormal platelet count, either high or low, is unlikely to show any symptoms until some blood loss occurs. While the actual production of the platelets occurs in the bone marrow, the spleen is also responsible for its removal from the blood and correct production of platelets in the blood is therefore dependant on both these organs working correctly.
With regards to your diet, try following a gluten free diet to help normalize your blood count. Foods such as rye, wheat, oats and cabbage are all rich in gluten and should be avoided. Increase your intake of foods that are rich in omega 3 acids, as they help boost the immune system, as well as help build up low platelet levels. Organically grown tomatoes are also considered to be full of antioxidants that are not commonly found in other foods and help buildup platelet levels significantly.