The ideal platelet range is 150,000 to 400,000 per mcL in most healthy people. Low platelet count is known as thrombocytopenia. High platelet count is known as thrombocytosis. The test can be done on its own or as part of a CBC test.

What happens if your platelet count is high or low?

When a platelet count is below 50,000, bleeding is more serious if you're cut or bruised. If the platelet count falls below 10,000 to 20,000 per microliter, spontaneous bleeding may occur and is considered a life-threatening risk. If you have a very low platelet count, you may be given platelets through a transfusion.

Is higher platelet count bad?

Normally, a high platelet count doesn't cause any symptoms. However, it can sometimes cause blood clots.

Is a platelet count of 250 good?

A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. Having more than 450,000 platelets is a condition called thrombocytosis; having less than 150,000 is known as thrombocytopenia.

What is considered high for platelet count?

A platelet count above 450,000 platelets per microlitre of blood is considered to be high. The technical name for this is thrombocytosis.

Thrombocytosis (primary and secondary) | Why Is My Platelet Count High?

16 related questions found

Do low platelets make you feel tired?

Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) definition and facts. Symptoms and signs of thrombocytopenia may include fatigue, bleeding, and others.

When should I be concerned about low platelet count?

Talk to your doctor immediately if you experience any signs of internal bleeding. Rarely, this condition may lead to bleeding in your brain. If you have a low platelet count and experience headaches or any neurological problems, tell your doctor right away.

Do platelet counts fluctuate?

It is important that platelet counts not be done too often since the levels fluctuate, sometimes quite widely. One week the platelets may be 27, the next week 51, and the week after that 18 without any change in the person's treatment or bleeding.

Does a low platelet count mean leukemia?

Certain cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma can lower your platelet count. The abnormal cells in these cancers can crowd out healthy cells in the bone marrow, where platelets are made. Less common causes of a low platelet count include: Cancer that spreads to the bone.

Should I worry about a slightly elevated platelet count?

The presence of high platelets is rarely associated with a medical emergency. However, in some cases, high platelets may cause blood clotting, bleeding or stroke.

What happens if platelets are high?

Thrombocytosis is a condition in which there are an excessive number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are blood cells in plasma that stop bleeding by sticking together to form a clot. Too many platelets can lead to certain conditions, such as stroke, heart attack or a clot in the blood vessels.

What is the most common cause of low platelet count?

One of the most common causes of low platelets is a condition called immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). You may hear it called by its old name, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

What is the most common cause of high platelet count?

Infection. In both children and adults, infections are the most common cause of an elevated platelet count. 1 This elevation can be extreme, with platelet counts greater than 1 million cells per microliter.

Can high platelets make you tired?

Essential thrombocythemia (throm-boe-sie-THEE-me-uh) is an uncommon disorder in which your body produces too many platelets. Platelets are the part of your blood that sticks together to form clots. This condition may cause you to feel fatigued and lightheaded and to experience headaches and vision changes.

What are the symptoms of low platelets?

Thrombocytopenia signs and symptoms may include:

• Easy or excessive bruising (purpura)
• Superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a rash of pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots (petechiae), usually on the lower legs.
• Prolonged bleeding from cuts.
• Bleeding from your gums or nose.
• Blood in urine or stools.

Does Covid increase platelet count?

COVID-19 patients often have mild thrombocytopenia and appear to have increased platelet consumption, together with a corresponding increase in platelet production. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and severe bleeding events are uncommon in COVID-19 patients.

What are the first signs of leukemia in adults?

Common leukemia signs and symptoms include:

• Fever or chills.
• Persistent fatigue, weakness.
• Frequent or severe infections.
• Losing weight without trying.
• Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen.
• Easy bleeding or bruising.
• Recurrent nosebleeds.
• Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)

Can low platelets cause dizziness?

The most common symptoms are: Signs of anemia, such as weakness, tiredness, headaches, heart palpitations and dizziness. Low platelet counts cause easy and profuse bleeding, as well as unexplained bruising.

What foods to avoid if you have low platelets?

Certain foods and drinks can reduce platelet counts including:

• alcohol.
• aspartame, an artificial sweetener.
• cranberry juice.
• quinine, a substance in tonic water and bitter lemon.

Does time of day affect platelet count?

In addition, time of day has an effect on platelet activation related events. Circadian variations of physiological parameters may have an effect on thrombus formation by platelet activation.

What is a bad platelet count?

A normal platelet count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. Your risk for bleeding develops if a platelet count falls below 10,000 to 20,000. When the platelet count is less than 50,000, bleeding is likely to be more serious if you're cut or bruised. Some people make too many platelets.

Can stress affect platelets?

Research gives hint that platelets activation and reactivity is increased by mental stress. This leads to enhanced cross talk with the immune system via paracrine secretion, receptor interaction and formation of platelet leucocyte-aggregates.

Can low platelets cause liver damage?

As a feedback response, thrombocytopenia further aggravates hepatic destruction and contributes to the pathogenesis of CLD and cirrhosis, suggesting that measures to prevent platelet loss may be useful as a therapeutic approach to treat CLD.

What are low platelets indicative of?

People with thrombocytopenia have low platelet levels. Platelets aid blood clotting (stopping bleeding). When platelet levels are low, you may bruise and bleed excessively. Certain cancers, cancer treatments, medications and autoimmune diseases can cause the condition.

Which medications cause low platelet count?

When medicines or drugs are the causes of a low platelet count, it is called drug-induced thrombocytopenia.
...
Other medicines that cause drug-induced thrombocytopenia include:

• Furosemide.
• Gold, used to treat arthritis.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Penicillin.
• Quinidine.
• Quinine.
• Ranitidine.
• Sulfonamides.