Platelets
Platelets are small cell fragments in the blood that help it clot when a blood vessel is injured.
Platelets are small cell fragments in the blood that help it clot when a blood vessel is injured. They are made in the bone marrow, live for about a week and gather at a wound to form a plug. The test counts how many platelets there are in the blood.
A recent cold or infection, hard exercise and blood loss, including heavy menstruation, can raise the count for a while. Iron intake, alcohol, some medicines and genes also play a part, and the count can vary over the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy.
Foods that help
Leafy greens, legumes, whole grains, fish, eggs and meat provide iron, folate and vitamin B12, which the bone marrow uses to make blood cells.
Foods to limit
Large amounts of alcohol affect how the bone marrow makes platelets. Very large supplement doses of fish oil or other products that affect clotting are worth keeping in mind.
Track it through the year
One value is a snapshot. Following it up shows whether what you changed is working.
Related markers
Educational information only — not a diagnosis. Every result is checked against safe limits, and anything critical is escalated for follow-up.
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