Causes of blue lips in adults. Lips turn blue: hypothermia or illness

Blue skin or lips usually indicate low level oxygen in the blood or poor circulation.

When there is a lack of oxygen, the blood darkens, causing the skin to take on a blue tint. Scientific name This phenomenon is cyanosis. In people with dark skin, cyanosis is more noticeable on the lips, gums and around the eyes.

If blue discoloration is observed on the skin of the fingers, tip of the nose, lips, ears or turns blue nasolabial triangle- the area between the nose and upper lip and chin, they talk about acrocyanosis - blue discoloration of the parts of the body furthest from the heart. This happens more often when there is a circulatory disorder. If the entire skin acquires a blue tint, we are talking about general (diffuse) cyanosis, which more often happens with a lack of oxygen: suffocation or poor lung function.

IN in rare cases It is possible that the skin may turn blue in a specific area, for example, on one finger. The reason for this change may be thrombosis (blockage) of a blood vessel or its sharp narrowing, which happens, for example, with Raynaud's syndrome.

Cyanosis in adults- is always a reason to see a doctor. If an adult’s lips quickly become blue, skin cyanosis increases, or the nasolabial triangle turns blue, difficulty breathing, chest pain, weakness, general malaise, or others suddenly appear. alarming symptoms, should be called ambulance by calling from landline phone 03, from mobile 112 or 911.

Slowly developing cyanosis usually indicates a chronic heart or lung disease - in this case, you should consult a doctor yourself as soon as possible, and if feeling unwell- call a doctor at home. So, for example, the gradual turning blue of the fingers or toes, hands and feet also indicates a circulatory disorder, which happens in many chronic diseases heart and lungs.

Cyanosis in children- always talks about dangerous condition. In infants, the nasolabial triangle often turns blue. If your child's skin turns blue, you should call an ambulance or contact your doctor yourself. emergency department the nearest hospital. The following symptoms also indicate danger:

• shortness of breath - the child breathes more often than usual, flares his nostrils, strains his chest muscles with each inhalation or exhalation;
• the child sits bent over;
• groans when breathing;
• the baby is lethargic, detached from others, inactive;
• eat poorly or refuse to eat;
• the child seems irritated.

The main causes of cyanosis (blue discoloration of the skin and lips)

The most common causes of cyanosis are described below, however the information contained in this article should not be used to self-diagnosis- for this you need to consult a doctor.

Lung dysfunction:

• thrombus in pulmonary artery(pulmonary embolism);
• exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchial asthma;
• drowning or prolonged exposure to water;
• being on high altitude above sea level - mountain (altitude) sickness;
• severe pneumonia.

Impaired patency respiratory tract:

• bronchiectasis, in which areas of the bronchi expand in the form of pouches, sputum stagnates in them and infections often occur;
• holding your breath;
• choking - read what to do if a person chokes;
• croup - inflammation of the upper respiratory tract in children, for example, with diphtheria or viral infections when the lumen of the trachea or bronchi narrows sharply;
• epiglottitis - inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis - a mucocartilaginous valve that separates the esophagus and trachea;
• convulsions that do not stop for a long time, for example, with tetanus.

Heart dysfunction:

• heart failure, in which the heart does not provide adequate blood flow to the organs and tissues of the body;
• congenital heart disease - a defect in the heart in which the blood low content oxygen from the right ventricle enters directly into the left, bypassing the lungs, which can lead to cyanosis;
• heart failure.

Other causes of cyanosis:

• overdose medicines(narcotics, benzodiazepines or sedatives);
• exposure to cold water or air;
• blood disorders, such as low hemoglobin (the blood cannot carry enough oxygen) or polycythemia ( high concentration red blood cells- erythrocytes in the blood).

Which doctor should I contact if I have cyanosis?

If your condition and health remain satisfactory and there is no need for emergency medical care, consult a therapist. The doctor will prescribe a minimal examination to find out the cause of the change in skin and lip color. Depending on the results of the examination, the doctor will send you for a consultation with a cardiologist - if possible problems with the heart and blood vessels or a pulmonologist - to exclude diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract. By following the links, you can choose a doctor yourself using the NaPravku service.

“Blue lips” are often found in people who have suffered from hypothermia. The most significant reason for this is bathing in cold water or just being in a pond for a long time. But this is the result of hypothermia and there is an explanation for this. But why do lips turn blue for no apparent reason?

Why do lips turn blue?

As they believe in medicine, nothing happens without a reason. And if the symptom of blue lips is present, then you need to urgently consult a doctor! With normal hypothermia in a person, the blueness goes away over time, as soon as he warms up - blood circulation normalizes and the capillaries of the mucous membranes expand. In this way, the normal pink color of the skin is restored, and there is no reason for further concern.

The alarm should be sounded if blue lips are caused by:

• rapid heartbeat;
• difficulty breathing;
• elevated temperature;
• feeling of heat in chest;
• persistent cough;
• if lips and nails turn blue together.

Such signs require immediate assistance from a medical professional.

If everything is clear during hypothermia, the point is in the capillaries themselves, which narrow from the cold, and in normal temperature expand, and there is no danger, then other signs pose an undoubted threat to health.

Blue lips may indicate oxygen starvation- i.e. from inhaling toxic gases or vapors for a sufficiently long time, even from tobacco smoke. Oxygen starvation and, as a result, blue lips may be due to heart problems.

With hypoxemia, the oxygen level in the blood drops, hemoglobin is restored, its values ​​increase, causing pigmentation and a “blue” coloration of the lips. The disease itself is also called cyanosis of the skin in medicine (from the Greek “cyano” - deep blue), accompanied by a sharp bluing of the mucous membranes, including the lips and the surface of the skin (it becomes cyanotic-blue).

With constant blue lips and unusual pallor skin Iron deficiency anemia is suspected. This is a disease in which there is a lack of iron, necessary for the production of hemoglobin, which saturates circulatory system oxygen. Anemia occurs from poor nutrition (starvation), large blood loss (injury, surgery, copious discharge on critical days, etc.).

What to do if your lips turn blue

If, against the background of general well-being, a person’s pulse begins to quicken, breathing is delayed or lost, or blue lips appear, then these are problems with cardiac dysfunction or respiratory system generally. An ordinary blood clot that breaks away from a vessel in the lung, a manifestation of a heart attack, bronchial asthma, a surge in pneumonia can cause a serious lack of oxygen in the body. If such a fact is present, be sure to call an ambulance and hospitalize the patient as quickly as possible.

In pediatrics, blue lips are noted when severe forms various diseases. The child has difficulty breathing and complains of a lump in the throat and pain in the lips. These symptoms indicate serious illness, and to avoid an unfavorable outcome it is required immediate treatment in a hospital setting.

Condition of the lips and their appearance are an indicator of health. Almost every one of us has seen a person with blue lips. Such changes in their color may indicate the development of pathology in the body. The question of whether, can be answered by a doctor, who should be contacted immediately, especially if there is palpitations, breathing problems, increased temperature.

Description of the problem

What is the medical name for blueness of the lips? It is a symptom of various diseases that are manifested by a change in the shade of the lips and skin blue. This is observed due to the accumulation of a huge amount of deoxyhemoglobin in the blood. Blood not saturated with the required amount of oxygen acquires dark color. Therefore, it becomes visible through the skin, especially in those places where the epidermis is very thin.

When considering the question of why an adult’s lips turn blue after drinking alcohol and smoking, it should be noted that this is due to the entry of toxins and harmful gases into the body.

Types of cyanosis

In medicine, the following types of cyanosis are distinguished:

1. Central, characterized by a pronounced blue color of the lips and cheeks. This happens due to impaired blood circulation, as a result of which carbon anhydride accumulates in large quantities.
2. Peripheral, which is caused by a slowdown in blood flow in the capillaries and an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the body. There is a mixing of venous and arterial blood, breathing quickens.

It is also customary to distinguish between temporary and permanent cyanosis. In the first case, its appearance provokes hypothermia or severe physical exercise. In the second case, cyanosis is associated with pathologies of cardio-vascular system. Now it has become clear why do adults' lips turn blue when it's cold?. More detailed reasons We will consider the development of the anomaly below.

Causes

Lips and skin may turn blue various reasons. This may be due not only to pathologies in the body, but also to the influence external factors. These include, for example, finding for a long time in a place with low oxygen content, heavy physical exertion, hypothermia, drug overdose, poisoning of the body or performing operations under anesthesia. Cyanosis can also indicate health problems. Let's consider this issue in more detail.

Lung dysfunction

Why do adult lips turn blue? A photo of such pathology is provided. One of the factors in its appearance may be the presence. It also manifests itself during exacerbation of COPD or bronchial asthma. At long stay Lips may also turn blue when underwater or on a mountain peak. Blue lips are almost always observed in severe pneumonia.

Airway obstruction

These reasons include holding your breath or suffocation. There may also be some diseases that provoke obstruction of the airways. These include bronchiectasis, characterized by dilation of part of the bronchi with stagnation of sputum, which leads to infections.

Lips can also turn blue due to epiglottitis, which manifests itself. In addition, pathology occurs with long-lasting convulsions as a result of certain diseases.

Disorders of blood vessels and heart

It is difficult to answer the question of why lips turn blue in an adult without conducting a thorough diagnosis. A very common source is heart failure. Here the organ cannot provide the necessary blood flow to the organs and tissues of the human body.

People with also suffer from blue lips. This is due to a defect in the organ, which is characterized by blood with a small amount of oxygen entering from the right ventricle directly into the left, without reaching the lungs. Blue lips are also observed during cardiac arrest.

Other reasons

Blue lips may occur when taking large quantity sedatives or narcotic drugs, benzodiazepines, as well as prolonged exposure to cold air or water. We already know. Here blood vessels narrow, the blood does not completely fill the lips, and it enters the internal organs.

Blue lips are often observed with anemia, when the body lacks iron, which, in turn, is responsible for the red color of the blood. Also, the level of this substance may fall during blood loss. Stressful situations may cause blue lips. With time unpleasant symptom passes in these cases.

Symptoms

Cyanosis is a symptom in some cases various diseases. It may be accompanied by blue discoloration not only of the lips, but also of the areas around the eyes, mouth, and other parts of the body. Often there is swelling of the capillaries in the neck and their swelling. The following symptoms may also occur:

1. If the functioning of the lungs and bronchi is impaired: shortness of breath, cough, fever, hemoptysis, chest pain.
2. For heart disease: blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle, shortness of breath, erythrocytosis, deformation of nails and fingers.

If such symptoms develop, it is recommended to immediately seek help from a specialist who will make a diagnosis and answer. In some cases, immediate respiratory resuscitation is required. Doctors carry out hardware and laboratory research, based on the results of which an accurate diagnosis is made.

Complications

If cyanosis of the lips is ignored, treatment was not carried out or was carried out in bad faith and of poor quality, a person often develops diseases of a psychoneurological nature that can affect the brain. At the same time, asomnia develops, appetite is lost, and immunity decreases. IN severe cases the person falls into a coma or dies. Therefore, it is important to make a timely diagnosis and begin treatment of the pathology.

Treatment

An ambulance must be called immediately if cyanosis of the lips is accompanied by shortness of breath and vomiting or suffocation, blood loss and other negative symptoms. As stated above, Why do the lips of an adult turn blue? Treatment must be prescribed by a specialist in any case.

First aid boils down to the fact that the patient is positioned in such a way as to provide him with the maximum flow of oxygen, then the appropriate medications for relax general condition and immediately call an ambulance.

If blue lips are due to hypothermia, the person needs to be warmed up by wrapping him in a blanket and giving him hot tea, rubbing it as much as possible. In case of slight hypothermia, it is recommended to take a bath with barely warm water, gradually increasing its temperature to 40°C. Then you need to wrap yourself in a terry towel and lie under the blanket.

Immediately place the patient under hot water You can’t, just like giving him alcohol or coffee. Otherwise, the risk of developing internal hemorrhages, rupture of capillaries and other increases. negative consequences. If hypothermia is severe enough, the person may die. Therefore, he must be immediately sent to the hospital.

If your lips are blue during pregnancy, you should consult a gynecologist who will prescribe special drugs containing iron. In this case, it is better not to self-medicate. There are many reasons why lips turn blue in an adult. Treatment folk remedies may negatively affect human health. Therefore, you need to see a doctor.

Prevention

Must be adhered to the right image life, do not overwork physically, do not get too cold. It is also recommended to avoid alcohol and nicotine consumption for prevention purposes. Pregnant women should closely monitor their health and visit a gynecologist on time. In the presence of heart pathologies or blood diseases, preventive treatment is recommended.

So, Why do the lips of an adult turn blue? Fak There are currently a lot of tori that cause such pathology. They can be related to both internal problems, so with external influences. It is important to deliver in a timely manner correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. Otherwise, the risk of complications and even the onset of fatal outcome.

Causes blue lips can be very different, in this material you will learn about the main ones.

Lack of oxygen

The main cause of blue lips is considered to be a lack of oxygen in the body - oxygen starvation. The phenomenon occurs due to cyanosis of the skin. Symptoms similar disease is clearly purple skin and all mucous membranes and this happens due to high content reduced hemoglobin in the blood. If a person has cyanosis, then, first of all, this indicates the presence of problems with the cardiovascular system.

Smoking and toxins

Smoking and constant influence on human body increased amount Toxic gases are the second common cause of blue lips. In some cases, in addition to the availability of blue color lips, you can also observe a very pale shade of the skin, and this already indicates iron deficiency anemia. Most often, anemia causes blue lips during pregnancy. Lack of hemoglobin can be associated not only with a lack of iron in food, but also with frequent and heavy blood loss(for menstruation, severe injuries and peptic ulcers).

Croup disease

Quite often the cause of blue lips in children is serious illness called croup, which is certainly accompanied severe cough, disturbances in normal breathing.

Lung and heart problems

If red lips change their natural color over time, and a person experiences shortness of breath and a rapid pulse, then we can talk about obvious symptoms of problems with the lungs or heart. The patient may experience heart attack, bronchitis or asthma develop. All this indicates oxygen starvation. Sometimes the lips also turn blue due to the formation of a blood clot in the lungs. In this case, you must immediately seek help from a doctor.

Hypothermia of the body

Hypothermia is another most common cause of blue lips. This is explained by the fact that when frozen, the blood vessels located in the lips narrow, preventing blood from completely filling them. As a result, most of the blood begins to flow from these vessels to internal organs: brain, kidneys and heart, thus supporting constant temperature of the whole body.

Now you know why an adult’s lips turn blue and in what cases you need to seek help from a specialist. Treatment for each cause will be completely different.