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thrombocytopenic

Platelet Disorders

Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are blood cells. They form in your bone marrow, a sponge-like tissue in your bones. Platelets play a major role in blood clotting. Normally, when one of your blood vessels is injured, you start to bleed. Your platelets will clot (clump together) to plug the hole in the blood vessel and stop the bleeding. You can have different problems with your platelets:

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Blood Clots

What is a blood clot?

A blood clot is a mass of blood that forms when platelets, proteins, and cells in the blood stick together. When you get hurt, your body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding. After the bleeding stops and healing takes place, your body usually breaks down and removes the blood clot. But sometimes the blood clots form where they shouldn't, your body makes too many blood clots or abnormal blood clots, or the blood clots don't break down like they should. These blood clots can be dangerous and may cause other health problems.

Blood clots can form in, or travel to, the blood vessels in the limbs, lungs, brain, heart, and kidneys. The types of problems blood clots can cause will depend on where they are:

Who is more likely to develop blood clots?

Certain factors can raise your risk of developing blood clots:

What are the symptoms of blood clots?

The symptoms for blood clots can be different, depending on where the blood clot is:

How are blood clots diagnosed?

To find out if you have one or more blood clots, your health care provider:

What are the treatments for blood clots?

Treatments for blood clots depend on where the blood clot is located and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

Can blood clots be prevented?

You may be able to help prevent blood clots by:

Some people at high risk may need to take blood thinners to prevent blood clots.

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