Sometimes we notice that some of the surrounding lips have a blue or purple hue. The blue tint of the lips can indicate serious problems in the functioning of the body and the alarm signal cannot be ignored. If you notice that the shade of the lips turns blue, then you should undergo a medical examination.. Blue lips can be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, blue legs, irregular heartbeat, sweating, severe coughing, and difficulty breathing.
Doctors call blue lips cyanotic. The main cause of blue lips is considered to be lack of oxygen in the body or oxygen starvation, which occurs due to cyanosis of the skin. Symptoms of oxygen starvation are the characteristic purple color of the skin and all mucous membranes, which is caused by an increase in the content of reduced hemoglobin in the blood.
First of all, in patients with cyanosis, problems with the cardiovascular system are suspected and referred for verification to a cardiologist. Another common cause of blue lips is a bad habit - smoking. The body is adversely affected by toxic substances inhaled with tobacco smoke, of which there are about 4000.
In addition to blue lips, a person may have pallor of the skin. In this case, it is likely that a person suffers from iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is the most common cause of blue lips in a pregnant woman. Iron is the most important trace element that takes part in many processes in our body. Iron is found in hemoglobin, which turns blood red. A low hemoglobin level can be observed not only with insufficient intake of iron from food, but with heavy blood loss, for example, during menstruation in women or severe injuries and peptic ulcers.
Quite often, the cause of blue lips in children is a serious condition called croup., which is certainly accompanied by a strong cough, violations of normal breathing.
If red lips change their natural color over time, and the patient has a breath holding, rapid pulse, then we can talk about obvious symptoms of problems with the lungs or heart. The patient may have a heart attack, develop bronchitis, or develop asthma. All this indicates oxygen starvation. Sometimes the lips turn blue also due to the formation of a blood clot in the lungs. In this case, you must immediately seek help from a doctor.
Also, blue lips can often be observed with hypothermia. At low temperatures, the blood vessels located in the lips narrow, which does not allow blood to fill them completely. As a result, most of the blood begins to flow from these vessels to the internal organs: the brain, heart and kidneys, which helps maintain a constant temperature throughout the body. The natural pink color of the lips and skin occurs only if the blood moves through the vessels constantly at the same speed and in the usual volume. It will be possible to return their pink color to pale lips after warming the body, as well as a number of measures that will help small blue blood vessels no longer appear through the thin skin of the lips.
Sometimes blue lips occur in people with Raynaud's disease, when the vessels in the extremities burst under the influence of low temperatures or from severe stress. The human body tries to fill the vessels with blood, which ultimately gives the body a blue tint.
Blue lips during pregnancy are a sign that there is not enough iron in the body of the expectant mother. This problem is quite common, so today drugs are already known that can help in resolving it.
When blue lips appear, it is recommended to restore blood circulation as soon as possible. For this, first of all, it is necessary warm the body. You can quickly warm up if you wrap yourself in a warm blanket. Hot tea helps to warm up, but not too strong, since caffeine, on the contrary, can cause vasoconstriction. It is also recommended to give up bad habits.
Before using the drugs listed on the site, consult your doctor.
Sometimes parents see this picture: the child's lips become purple or bluish. This may appear in the morning immediately after waking up or after overly active games or other circumstances. Naturally, every parent is seriously scared. Blue lips can be a sign of a number of health problems in a child, such as cyanosis.
Cyanosis, however, is not always a dangerous factor. Newborns and infants may have natural acre cyanosis - cyanotic lips or a bluish tint to the skin on the legs and arms. In this case, blueing is peripheral cyanosis - usually, with the development of the circulatory system, it goes away on its own.
Central cyanosis
Central cyanosis, that is, when the face or torso of the baby takes on a bluish tint - this may indicate a more serious and dangerous health problem. As a rule, in this case, immediate diagnosis and treatment are necessary. Blue lips can be a symptom of central cyanosis, but at the same time, blue lips can be a completely harmless temporary blue of the skin around the baby's mouth, especially when eating or while crying. It can also happen with increased activity or an outburst of anger in a child. In such a case, the skin around the mouth turns blue, and not the lips themselves, and the tongue and oral mucosa remain pink.
You can distinguish dangerous cyanosis from non-dangerous if you carefully examine the lips, tongue, nails of the child. In the event that they are pink, then most likely the child has perioral cyanosis, which does not cause concern. But if the lips, tongue and nails have acquired a blue tint at the same time, you should immediately contact a qualified doctor for medical help.
Normal or not
To detect a potentially dangerous violation if the child's lips turn blue - what parents need to remember:
Is the child developing normally? Rapid weight loss or poor weight gain may indicate that there is a dangerous health problem.
Has the child been diagnosed with a heart murmur? If yes, then you need to seek emergency help immediately. Does the child have any other symptoms (difficulty breathing or coughing) during blue lips? This may indicate one of the symptoms of asthma.
Is the child energetic compared to peers? In the event that the child quickly overworks and at the same time has blue lips, this may indicate a more dangerous and serious problem. To the doctor!
Does the child become lethargic and drowsy after blue lips? Perhaps the brain and organs of the baby do not have enough oxygen.
Diagnosis and treatment
Regardless of whether blue lips accompany other symptoms, it is recommended to seek advice from a pediatrician as soon as possible. Only a doctor can determine how dangerous cyanosis is for a child's health.
If the doctor is in doubt about cyanosis, then the child may be referred for additional diagnostics, which includes a blood test, pulse oximetry, a chest x-ray, or an ECG if there are suspicions of a heart disorder. Treatment will depend directly on the cause of blue lips.
IMPORTANT: This applies to all parents - "Never make a diagnosis on your own and do not self-medicate, because delay can be expensive and not in terms of finances - your child may simply lose his health!"! After all, it is always easier to treat the disease at the initial stage than the consequences of delay!
The material was prepared by Natalia KOVALENKO. Illustrations from the site: © 2014 Thinkstock.
Lips are an indicator of human health. A change in their color indicates a malfunction of the internal organs and the development of various diseases. Blue lips are a sign of diseases such as lack of oxygen in the body, asthma, frostbite, anemia, diseases of the cardiovascular system. With such pathologies, the help of a specialist is needed.
Blue lips - a serious reason to see a doctor
Description of the problem
Blue lips are a sign of diseases that speak of their existence by changing color. The reason lies in the lack of oxygen in the blood and the accumulation of deoxyhemoglobin.
This problem is called cyanosis - a symptom of various diseases. If the blood lacks the right amount of oxygen, it darkens. You can notice the darkening through the skin, especially in those parts of the body where its layer is thin.
Forms of cyanosis
Specialists distinguish 2 forms of cyanosis.
- Central. It gives a person a bright blue color of the lips and cheeks. Symptoms appear due to failures in the movement of blood in the human body. Carbonic anhydride accumulates in the blood in a high volume.
- Peripheral. It slows down the passage of blood in the capillaries, and increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the body. The connection of venous and arterial blood begins, after which breathing quickens.
Doctors distinguish short-term and continuous cyanosis. For the first option, the appearance of cyanosis is associated with severe hypothermia or a large number of physical exercises. For the second option - with the presence of pathologies in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Possible Factors
If a person's lips began to darken, there may be several reasons for this. If such a problem is found, then this is an occasion to contact a specialist. Let's try to figure out what are the reasons and what are the consequences of this.
Long stay in the cold
The blood that circulates through the vessels gives the skin a pinkish tint. When the body freezes, the body's capabilities are rebuilt to warm up all the organs. The vessels through which blood passes to the legs, arms and lips shrink from cold, so the blood flow is reduced. This is what gives the skin a dark color.
Lack of oxygen in the body
Often the lips are blue from lack of air in the body. There are several reasons for oxygen starvation.
- Complete or partial absence of air. This is due to negative habits - smoking reduces the flow of oxygen in the lungs. The presence of a foreign object in the respiratory system leads to fainting and complete blockage of air.
- Prolonged lying down creates oxygen stagnation in the lungs. This reason applies to bedridden patients. The phlegm collects in the lungs and cannot be expelled. The patient is sanitized by a bronchoscope.
- Often, after surgery, the patient's lips turn blue - this is how anesthesia affects the lungs.
Asthma
In the presence of this disease, a person often does not have enough air. Asthma inflames the bronchi and trachea, resulting in an attack of bronchospasm. Little air enters the body, muscles tense up, and abundant blood flow makes not only the lips blue, but also the neck and face of an asthmatic.
Asthmatics prone to blue lips
lack of iron in the blood
Blue lips may be due to a small amount of iron in the blood. In this case, the production of hemoglobin, which is responsible for complexion, is disrupted. This disease is called anemia.
The person feels tired, the color of the skin, nails and lips changes. The disease cannot begin to develop on its own. It becomes active after injuries, severe blood loss and malnutrition. It is impossible to make a correct diagnosis at the initial stage, since there is no clinical picture of the disease. To determine the disease, it is enough for a person to donate blood. Treatment is prescribed after examination.
Poor functioning of the heart and blood vessels
Often the appearance of blue color on the lips happens due to heart failure, but first a person needs to undergo a thorough diagnosis. The heart is not able to give the body and tissues the right amount of blood. People who suffer from heart disease from birth have blue lips all the time. This is due to damage in the organ, since blood with a small amount of oxygen passes from one ventricle to another and does not reach the lungs. They darken when the heart stops.
Causes of illness in children
If a child's lips and face begin to turn blue, this is a sign of the development of serious pathologies. A change in the color of the lips indicates a central form of cyanosis. When the skin turns blue in the area of the lips at the time of crying or feeding a child, this phenomenon is not dangerous. This result can occur due to the strong energy of the baby or a fit of anger. In this condition, the skin acquires a blue tint not only in the area of the lips, but also throughout the body, and the tongue and oral cavity remain pink.
Parents need to carefully examine the legs, arms, tongue and nails of the child, after which you can understand whether this form is dangerous to the health of the child or not. Pink color says that the child has cyanosis in the mouth area. When the color begins to darken, you urgently need to call an ambulance.
Symptoms
Cyanosis is a symptom of various diseases. It is characterized by blueness of the lips, neck, mouth and other parts of the body.
There may also be other symptoms:
- cough and shortness of breath;
- chest pain;
- increase in body temperature;
- hemoptysis;
- bluing of the corners of the mouth and nose;
- distortion of nails and fingers.
If your fingers are also blue, you should immediately go to the hospital
If you have these symptoms, you should immediately go to the hospital. The doctor examines the patient, determines the disease and prescribes drugs for treatment. In the case of blue lips due to airway problems, a person may need respiratory resuscitation.
First aid
If there is a strong blue of the lips, the presence of shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting and heart palpitations - you need to call the hospital and call a doctor. Before the ambulance arrives, the patient is given first aid. For air flow, clothes are removed from the throat, the collar is loosened, after which the person is seated in a comfortable position.
If a person feels a strong cold, they wrap him up well, take a blanket, a blanket, rub his hands and feet. The patient is given hot tea to drink, which will quickly increase the body temperature. It is forbidden to drink hot coffee, because caffeine compresses blood vessels. Physical exercises, jumping, running, squats will warm the body, after which the activity of blood vessels will increase, blood flow will normalize, and oxygen will be supplied to the tissues in the right amount.
If the lips of a pregnant woman begin to turn blue, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist. There is a possibility of developing anemia, in which self-medication is prohibited.
Conclusion
Any change in the color of the lips, the formation of spots on the skin, etc. should alert the person. It is impossible to immediately determine what blue lips mean. If you do not pay attention to such manifestations in the body, they will negatively affect the future health of a person.
Timely access to a doctor will help maintain health and prolong life. Proper lifestyle and a balanced diet will prevent the development of various diseases.
The appearance of the lips is an indicator of the state of health. Consider why the lips turn blue, the main causes, accompanying symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Cyanosis, that is, blueness of the skin and mucous membranes, is not an independent disease, but a sign of certain disorders in the body. According to their structure, the lips are divided into three zones:
- Internal, covered with a mucous membrane.
- External with skin.
- Intermediate (red border).
The normal scarlet (pink) color is due to the large number of blood vessels. If the skin darkens or becomes bluish, then this indicates a serious problem with the body.
The main reasons for unpleasant changes:
- Oxygen starvation and hypoxemia - occur due to a reduced level of oxygen in the body. The skin takes on a purple-blue color. Most often, this condition is associated with such factors:
- Complete or partial absence of oxygen in the air. For example, smoking leads to a decrease in oxygen circulation in the alveoli of the lungs.
- Prolonged lying down causes stagnation of air in the lungs.
- Surgical interventions with the use of anesthesia.
- Overlapping of the airways with foreign bodies and particles.
- Violation of the integrity of the lungs.
- Prolonged exposure to a room / space with a low oxygen content.
- Various hormonal changes in the body, including pregnancy.
- Hypothermia of the body and a rapid rise to a height.
- Increased physical activity.
- Intoxication of the body with food or overdose of medications.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system (chronic pathologies, congenital anomalies).
- Iron-deficiency anemia.
- Pathology of the circulatory system.
- Shock caused by anaphylactic or septic shock, blood loss, or spinal cord/brain injury.
- Reynaud's disease - due to stress and overstrain, small vessels burst, changing the color of the lips and other areas of the skin.
- Respiratory disorders.
Cyanosis may occur suddenly or develop gradually. It depends on the cause that provoked the disorder. Most often, the pathology is associated with spasms of blood vessels. If, against the background of blue lips, a rapid heartbeat, discoloration of the nails or suffocation appears, then this condition is very dangerous. It is possible to establish the exact cause of the defect only after a comprehensive examination. According to the results of the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the most appropriate treatment.
Why do adult lips turn blue?
There are many factors that provoke cyanosis of different parts of the skin and mucous membranes. Consider the most common reasons why the lips turn blue in an adult:
- Oxygen deficiency in the blood and injury to small capillaries. Changes are observed from the tissues of the lips, auricles, tip of the nose and fingers. The skin is blue and cold to the touch.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system provoke a slowdown in the flow of blood to the tissues of the body. Oxygen starvation causes an increase in hemoglobin levels due to carbon dioxide. Against this background, tissues and mucous membranes turn blue, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, swelling of the lower extremities, dull pains in the sternum appear.
- Diseases of the respiratory system with impaired gas exchange. An increased concentration of carbon dioxide is observed in the vessels, which gives the dermis a characteristic shade. Violation of the functioning of the bronchi, lungs, as well as congenital anomalies of the cardiac septa provoke central cyanosis.
- Intoxication of the body with chemicals, drugs, food.
Increased physical activity, emotional experiences, prolonged hypothermia or exacerbation of chronic diseases can also cause pathological changes. If cyanosis has a peripheral form, then the blue lips are cold, with a diffuse form, the tissues remain warm. Changes that have arisen in a short period of time are the most dangerous, as they can indicate blockage of blood vessels by blood clots, asphyxia, suffocation.
Why does a child's lips turn blue?
The condition in which children have cyanosis of certain parts of the body is familiar to many parents. There are many reasons why a child's lips turn blue, consider the most common:
- Congenital heart defect.
- neonatal pneumonia.
- Asthmatic condition.
- Sudden hypothermia of the body.
- Septic shock.
- Oxygen starvation.
- Allergic reactions to food, medicines.
- Intracranial hemorrhages.
- Meningoencephalitis.
- Cerebral edema.
- Calcium deficiency and excess of phosphates in the body.
The appearance of cyanosis can be caused by respiratory diseases. Croup is often diagnosed in children younger than 3 years of age. This pathology is characterized by inflammation of the vocal cords, severe stenosis of the larynx, dry cough, wheezing, and fever.
A painful condition occurs due to spasms of the larynx - affective-respiratory syndrome. Pathology is characterized by a sharp cessation of breathing during inhalation and the impossibility of exhalation. It occurs due to increased excitability of the nervous system. The child turns pale and then turns blue. ARS acts as a kind of reflex that occurs when crying loudly. The attack lasts about a minute and is typical for children under three years of age. In 90% of cases, before the age of eight, the affective-respiratory syndrome disappears.
If the cyanosis of the lips occurs too often and is accompanied by additional symptoms (pain behind the sternum, high blood pressure, convulsions, loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, appetite disturbances, deterioration in general well-being), then you should immediately seek medical help. The pediatrician will examine the child, conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and prescribe treatment to restore blood circulation and normalize the natural color of the skin.
Why does it turn blue over the lip?
Problems with the cardiovascular system are the main reason why it turns blue over the lip. Due to attempts to fill the vessels with blood, the tissues acquire a cyanotic hue. The symptom is associated with a deficiency of hemoglobin in the vessels, which gave oxygen to the tissues and did not recover. This condition occurs when there is a lack of iron, folic acid, vitamin B12 and protein in the body.
Oxygen starvation and respiratory diseases also provoke changes in the skin and mucous membranes. Poisoning and intoxication of the body lead to circulatory disorders. This is observed with hypothermia, poor gas exchange of the lungs and pathologies that cause violations of bronchial conduction.
If the painful condition persists for a long period of time, periodically makes itself felt or occurs with additional symptoms, then you should immediately seek medical help. The sooner the cause of the violation is established, the higher the chances of avoiding all sorts of complications.
Why does the upper lip turn blue?
With such a problem as a cyanotic skin tone, at least once, but everyone has come across. Why does the upper lip turn blue, what factors cause changes and how to eliminate them? Consider the main causes of an unpleasant symptom:
- Pulmonary system disorders - this can be pulmonary embolism, prolonged exposure to water or at high altitude, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe pneumonia.
- Pathologies of the respiratory tract - suffocation, infections in which the lumen of the bronchi or trachea narrows, bronchiectasis, croup, inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis.
- Cardiovascular diseases - heart failure, congenital malformations, temporary cardiac arrest.
In addition to the above factors, the disorder is observed with an overdose of drugs, with diseases of the circulatory system, exposure to cold air or water.
Why does the lower lip turn blue?
Prolonged exposure to the cold is the most common reason why the lower lip turns blue. Due to the cooling of the body, the resources of the body are redistributed to warm the internal organs as much as possible. That is, a violation and a decrease in blood circulation through the vessels leads to a change in skin color and loss of sensitivity. As soon as the color of the tissues returns to normal, we can assume that the work of the body has been restored.
- Changes may be associated with a lack of oxygen. Smokers often experience this. Due to the toxic gases emitted by a cigarette during smoldering, hypoxia occurs, that is, oxygen starvation.
- Another possible factor of the disorder is diseases of the cardiovascular system. In this case, the skin and mucous membranes acquire a dark blue, purple hue.
- A change in skin tone with a rapid pulse and difficulty breathing is a violation of the function of the lungs or the heart. Blueness in the corners of the mouth may indicate a heart attack or the formation of a blood clot in the vessels of the lung tissue, an asthmatic condition, pneumonia.
- Decreased hemoglobin levels due to iron deficiency anemia. Deficiency of iron-containing protein occurs due to poor nutrition and heavy blood loss.
Cyanosis occurs in Reynaud's disease. This pathology is associated with severe stress and emotional experiences, accompanied by low temperature, paresthesia, and blood metabolism disorders.
Why does it turn blue around the lips?
A cyanotic shade of the skin and mucous membranes indicates serious problems in the body. To establish why it turns blue around the lips, especially if it appears too often, you should seek medical help and undergo a comprehensive diagnosis.
In most cases, the disease state is associated with oxygen starvation. The skin and mucous membranes turn purple due to an increase in reduced hemoglobin in the blood or a decrease in oxygen levels. A similar condition is also characteristic of cardiovascular diseases.
The appearance of a blue border around the lips is characteristic of iron deficiency anemia. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, which is responsible for the red color of blood. If the symptom occurs against the background of respiratory diseases, then this indicates the formation of croup. A painful condition is also characteristic of a heart attack, especially if there are signs of palpitations, fainting and a sharp deterioration in general well-being.
Why, when a child cries and his lips turn blue?
Many parents wonder: why do lips turn blue when a child cries? First of all, it should be noted that in the normal state, the color of the tissues should be pink, thus indicating good blood circulation.
The main cause of the violation is an affective-respiratory syndrome. It occurs due to crying, pain and a number of other factors associated with strong emotions and experiences. Against the background of cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes, apnea occurs, that is, a condition when the child cannot exhale and does not breathe. At the same time, the baby's muscles are spasmodic. The attack lasts from a few seconds to 5-7 minutes, but on average about 30-60 seconds. If the apnea period is prolonged, then loss of consciousness is possible - an atonic non-epileptic seizure due to acute oxygen deficiency of the brain.
Distinctive features of ARS:
- Severe cyanosis or pallor of the skin.
- Increased sweating.
- Weak muscle stimulation.
- Slow recovery after an attack.
Very often, rolling in crying is interrupted after breathing stops and the body becomes limp for 5-10 seconds. The spasm of the larynx is reflexively removed, the child takes a sharp breath or exhale. Gradually, the condition is restored. If the process of hypoxia is not interrupted, then convulsions occur as a response of the body to the accumulation of carbon dioxide. Thanks to the reflex removal of muscle spasms, the child begins to breathe, blood circulation and skin color are restored. According to medical statistics, such attacks occur with the same frequency in both boys and girls aged 6 to 18 months, in rare cases up to 5 years.
In any case, the cyanosis of the skin is a signal that the body does not receive enough oxygen. This condition is associated with the presence in the venous blood of pathological hemoglobin derivatives that are not able to transport oxygen. It can be a symptom of diseases of the cardiovascular or respiratory system. In some cases, peripheral cyanosis is associated with the process of maturation of the child's circulatory system. It goes away on its own as it gets older.
If blue lips occur too often or occur with additional symptoms, then you should consult a doctor. The specialist will determine the features of the violation (physiological, pathological) and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.
Why does a newborn's lips turn blue?
Cyanotic skin tone in infants is very often observed in the first months of life, causing panic in parents. The blueness of the nasolabial triangle can be associated with both physiological and pathological factors. Let us consider in more detail why the lips of a newborn turn blue:
- Decreased oxygen concentration in the blood. The normal rate is in the range of 92.5-95%, but due to strong crying and overexertion, it drops below 92%. This is observed when the body is hypothermic, light and thin skin with a close location of blood vessels to its surface.
- Infectious diseases with difficulty breathing. In addition to cyanosis, shortness of breath appears, increased pallor of the extremities. Without timely treatment, pathological symptoms become more pronounced.
- The presence of a foreign object in the airways. If before the baby's lips never changed their color, and now cyanosis occurs with difficulty breathing, then an examination of the respiratory tract should be carried out. If necessary, call an ambulance.
In addition to the above reasons, the cyanosis of the lips, which persists for a long period of time, may also indicate such disorders: congenital heart disease, malformation of the pulmonary artery, heart failure. At the same time, the most common defect in the cardiovascular system is the non-closure of the foramen ovale. With this pathology, arterial and venous blood mix, lowering oxygen saturation and causing cyanosis.
A painful condition in newborns occurs due to insufficient development of the respiratory system. To eliminate this problem, a special massage and long walks in the open air are recommended. If the cyanosis does not go away until 3-4 months of the child's life, then the baby should be shown to the pediatrician, neuropathologist and cardiologist.
Why do lips turn blue during exercise?
Oxygen starvation is the main reason why lips turn blue during exercise. Overload hypoxia develops due to a lack of oxygen, which is burned when replenishing energy resources during increased activity.
The blood circulation in the periphery, that is, on the lips and extremities, decreases, causing cyanosis. Such hypoxia is physiological, that is, it is not dangerous, since the state is restored after the completion of high loads.
If additional symptoms occur:
- Increased sleepiness.
- Lethargy.
- Headaches and dizziness.
- Noise in ears.
- Lethargy.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Seizures.
- Violation of consciousness.
This may be a sign of diseases of the cardiovascular system. This condition requires careful comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.
Why do lips turn blue sometimes?
Many of us, at least once, but wondered why sometimes lips turn blue. In most cases, this is due to hypothermia, increased physical activity, the use of coloring products or substances that cause intoxication. After the end of the irritating factor, the condition returns to normal, the color of the skin and mucous membranes is restored.
Let us consider in more detail the possible causes of cyanosis:
- Hypothermia - changes in skin color are associated with a violation of the constant circulation of blood through the vessels. Due to cooling, a redistribution of resources occurs, that is, all the forces of the body are rushed to warm the internal organs. The blood vessels in the lips and extremities constrict, reducing blood flow. Because of this, the tissues acquire a bluish tint and lose sensitivity.
- Iron deficiency anemia - the pink color of the skin is due to hemoglobin, the formation of which depends on the amount of iron supplied with food. In this case, cyanosis is associated with poor nutrition, profuse blood loss, trauma, and complications of peptic ulcer.
- Oxygen starvation - occurs due to toxic substances that affect the body. This condition is very common in smokers.
- Disorders from the work of the lungs and heart - tissue changes are accompanied by a rapid pulse, breath holding, deterioration in general well-being.
- Croup (stenosing laryngitis) - occurs in children due to severe respiratory diseases, manifested by a strong barking cough.
If cyanosis that occurs from time to time appears with additional symptoms, then medical attention should be sought.
Why do the corners of the lips turn blue?
A change in the color of the nasolabial triangle occurs due to many factors, both physiological and pathological. To determine why the corners of the lips turn blue, you should take an anamnesis and diagnose the possible causes of an unpleasant symptom.
Most often, the blue corners of the lips occur due to pathologies from the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Local cyanosis is characteristic of asthma, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia. If against this background there is a delay in breathing, and the pulse is quickened, then this may be a sign of a heart attack.
Why do lips turn blue in the cold?
The most common cause of cyanosis in both children and adults is hypothermia. Let us consider in more detail why lips turn blue in the cold. The normal pink color of the skin and mucous membranes is ensured by the constant circulation of blood through the vessels. With a long stay in the cold, there is a redistribution of resources. The body throws all its forces into warming the internal organs.
The blood vessels begin to constrict, gradually reducing the flow of blood. As a result of this, the tissues become bluish in color and may temporarily lose sensitivity. When returning to a warm environment, blood circulation is restored, ensuring the normal functioning of all organs and systems.
In order to prevent such a change, you should dress warmly, maintaining normal blood circulation. If cyanosis has already appeared, then you can drink warm tea or go in for sports, since moderate physical activity accelerates oxygen throughout all tissues of the body.
Why do lips turn blue from poppers?
The slang term for many inhaled chemicals is poppers. They are volatile and flammable liquids with a pronounced aroma (from sweet or fruity to very unpleasant). Such substances quickly decompose under the influence of oxygen and sunlight.
Initially, poppers were used in medical practice to treat asthmatic attacks. The patient inhaled vapors of nitrates, stabilizing respiration and blood circulation. To date, this method of treating asthma is not used, since more effective and safer drugs have been invented. This class of chemical compounds also includes:
- Amyl nitrite is the basis of drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
- Butyl nitrite (isobutyl nitrite) is a component for the production of essences and liquid flavors.
- Drugs-pathogens, erection stimulants.
For many people who take this kind of substance, the question often arises: why do lips turn blue from poppers. The main danger of chemically active drugs is their improper use. Prolonged contact with skin and mucous membranes causes acute poisoning, contact dermatitis and burns.
Poppers is contraindicated in diseases of the cardiovascular system, anemia, pregnancy. These conditions themselves can cause cyanosis, but the use of poppers increases the risk of cyanosis. The risk of adverse reactions increases significantly when taking alcohol and drugs. The cyanotic hue may be associated with circulatory disorders caused by increased heart work and changes in blood pressure due to nitrates.
Why does the lower lip turn blue in a child?
When answering the question of why the child's lower lip turns blue, you should carefully assess the overall health of the baby. The main reason for this cyanosis is the lack of oxygen in the blood. This violation is typical for:
- Congenital heart defect.
- Septic shock.
- Diseases of the respiratory system (asthma, laryngitis, pneumonia).
Blue areas of the skin may indicate an underdevelopment of the circulatory and respiratory systems. Changes occur with hypothermia and affective-respiratory syndrome. In the latter case, cyanosis appears due to the strong crying of the baby.
A bluish tint of the skin and mucous membranes can occur simultaneously with changes in the nail plates, upper and lower extremities. This condition requires careful diagnosis and, of course, treatment. During the examination, the child must pass a set of laboratory tests, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram and other studies. If any deviations from the norm are detected, then appropriate therapy is prescribed.
Why do lips turn blue with age?
As we age, irreversible changes begin in the body. The skin and mucous membranes lose their elasticity and become cyanotic. Why lips turn blue with age is most often associated with such factors:
- Chronic course of diseases of internal organs.
- Pathologies from the cardiovascular system.
- Damage to the circulatory system.
- Acute respiratory diseases.
- Decreased level of hemoglobin in the blood.
- Bad habits (smoking, alcoholism).
- The use of certain medications.
- body intoxication.
- Oxygen starvation.
- Entry into the trachea of foreign bodies.
To determine why the lips turn blue in adults or in children, you should seek medical help. Diagnosis is especially necessary with frequent bouts of cyanosis, which occur with additional symptoms that disrupt the functioning of the body.
