The purpose of platelets is to recognize any damaged blood vessels, the platelets are the cells that circulate inside our blood and bind them together. For instance, when you get a cut, for instance the platelets bind together at the damaged blood vessel, and causing a blood clot. The reason this is happening and why the platelets are there within our blood, it is to stop us from bleeding continually.
Platelets are the tiniest of our blood cells and can only be seen under a microscope. They are almost literally shaped like small plates in their non-active form. A blood vessel will telegraph a signal when it undergoes damage. When the signal is received by the platelets, they will acknowledge by journeying to the area and changing into their active appearance. The make contact with the damaged blood vessel platelets will grow long tentacles and then assume the appearance of a spider or an octopus.
A temporary solution to stop bleeding is the formation of a blood clot; repair of the blood vessel is in order. The gathering of platelets helps this process by generating chemicals that contribute to the growth and invasion of fibroblasts from surrounding connective tissue around the wounded area and completely heal the wound or form a scar. The fibrinolytic enzyme slowly dissolves the hindering clot, and the platelets disappear by phagocytosis.
A human’s normal platelet count covers a range of from about 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood. If a human has a higher platelet count of more the 450,000 it is a condition commonly known as thrombocytosis; a human with less than 150,000 is commonly known as thrombocytopenia. A doctor will get your platelet number from a routine examination blood test called complete blood count.
Too many platelets or too few platelets even abnormally functioning platelets. These diseases are all related to blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks all these disease can be inherited. If you know your family, histories alert your doctor as all these problems can be inherited.
Even if you feel okay your local doctor may desire to keep an eye on your health and investigate your functioning platelets if they are too high or too low. Most of us know the common blood thinning medication is aspirin. However, we must not treat ourselves; always seek medical advice before taking medications. Recently studies have shown that women under 65 who are very healthy do not get the same benefit from aspirin as men do.
Reference:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/clinical_services/womens_cardiovascular_health_center/patient_information/health_topics/platelets.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platelet
