home Consultations Why do lips turn black? Blue lips as a sign of pathology

Why do lips turn black? Blue lips as a sign of pathology

Blue lips may indicate serious pathologies in the body. Therefore, you should immediately remember the doctor as soon as you notice.

Associated symptoms There may be blue nails, rapid heartbeat, increased temperature, severe cough, sweating, and problems with normal breathing.

In all these cases, you should also visit a doctor.

Causes of blue lips

Doctors call blue lips cyanotic; the main reason for this phenomenon is called, which can occur due to cyanosis of the skin.

Signs of this condition are pronounced purple all mucous membranes and skin. This is a consequence of excessive levels of reduced hemoglobin in the blood. Cyanosis in a patient is a signal of problems with the cardiovascular system.

One more common cause Smoking and constant exposure to excessive amounts of toxic gases on the body can cause cyanotic lips. Sometimes a very pale skin tone is added to the blue color of the lips. In this case, doctors suspect that this is often observed during pregnancy. Iron is involved in various processes occurring in the body and is one of the most important microelements that is essential for it. In particular, iron is a component of hemoglobin, which gives blood its red tint.

Blue lips are often observed in children. This serious illness which is accompanied by violations normal breathing And severe cough.

A change in lip color from red to blue, especially coupled with a rapid pulse and holding your breath, makes you think about obvious problems with the heart or lungs. Similar condition is fraught with the development of asthma or bronchitis, since this is a clear sign of oxygen starvation.

In some cases, blue lips are associated with the formation of a blood clot in the lungs, and this is a reason to consult a doctor.

Lips often become blue when the body is hypothermic. This is explained by the fact that the blood vessels on the lips narrow when they freeze and do not allow blood to completely fill them. This leads to the fact that most of the blood from these vessels goes to internal organs: heart and kidneys, brain. This is necessary to maintain a constant temperature throughout the body.

Normal color skin and lips is preserved only when blood moves through the vessels constantly in the usual volume and at the same speed. By heating your body, you can return blue or pale lips to their natural color. pink color.

In some cases, blue lips are observed in patients with Raynaud's disease, in this case the vessels burst when they are exposed to low temperature, but this can also occur from severe stress. Trying to replenish blood vessels, the body reduces blood flow to the skin and lips and the body acquires a blue tint. If blue lips are observed during pregnancy, this may indicate iron deficiency in the body of the expectant mother. This is a fairly common condition, but there are a number of medications available that successfully treat this problem.

What to do if your lips turn blue?

If your lips turn blue, try to wrap yourself well in a terry towel or warm blanket to help your body warm up faster. Blood will begin to circulate through the internal organs faster and will soon rise to the limbs and lips. Drink some hot tea. However, you should be careful with coffee in this state, taking into account that the caffeine it contains constricts blood vessels. Sports training(aerobics, running, etc.), also quickly warm the body, remove the cyanotic tint and replace it with a more pleasant pink one. Sport distributes oxygen well to all tissues of the body.

After all, nicotine and tobacco smoke lead to accelerated vasoconstriction and reduce the flow of oxygen to tissues.

Leather (from ancient Greek - “dark blue”). The skin and mucous membranes acquire a purple tint due to an increase in reduced hemoglobin in the blood. Cyanosis is a symptom of hypoxemia (decreased oxygen in the blood). Cyanosis is often a sign of heart disease.

Lack of oxygen in the blood can occur from exposure to toxic gases and as a result frequent smoking. This also causes darkened lips.

Blue lips combined with pale skin due to iron deficiency anemia. Iron is a vital component of hemoglobin, the substance responsible for the red color of blood. Hemoglobin deficiency can be caused not only by insufficient iron in food, but also by heavy blood loss during menstruation or peptic ulcer, as well as simply large loss of blood as a result of serious injury.

Blue lips combined with strong barking cough should alert parents - these may indicate the formation of a severe form of croup, a disorder caused by respiratory diseases.

A sharp change in the natural color of the lips to purple with increased heart rate and holding your breath indicates a dysfunction of the heart or lungs. This could be pneumonia, asthma and other diseases that cause oxygen deficiency. Also, lips can suddenly turn blue when a blood clot forms in the vessels of the lungs. In these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor.

And finally, the most common cause of blue lips is hypothermia. The fact is that many blood vessels begin to narrow when cooling, and blood is redirected to the internal organs. Due to the narrowing of blood vessels in the skin, blood flow is reduced, and therefore the skin takes on a bluish tint. The usual pink color of the skin and lips is ensured only by constant blood circulation. When the body warms up, the blood that has flowed to the internal organs returns back and continues to circulate throughout the body, which returns the pinkish tint to the skin of the lips.

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bluish lips

Well-groomed nails are a source of pride for many fashionistas, who spend a lot of time on unusual manicures and other stylish decorations. But sometimes the nail plates become covered with strange spots or, even worse, begin to change their natural color.

Mechanical injuries

There are many factors that affect the condition of nails and give them unhealthy shades. Blue discoloration can be caused by blows and other similar injuries. This also includes cases where the toes are stepped on with a sharp object, such as a heel. As a result, a hematoma is formed from blood clots, which gives a similar visual effect.

Timely placed in place cold compress or ice wrapped in a clean cloth will soften the damage caused by the injury, but this action does not preclude seeking medical attention. Only qualified specialist will determine whether you need medical intervention or whether it is enough to limit yourself to caution in the future.

The most painful option for eliminating the consequences of an injury is considered to be removal of the horny plate. This is an unpleasant procedure that requires a significant recovery period - if we're talking about on the leg, it will be problematic to move freely for some time after the manipulation.

Don't try to open it nail plate and remove the frozen liquid from there yourself. Even small puncture at the site of damage it can become a source of infection into the body. This threatens with such deadly consequences as tetanus and sepsis.

Painful conditions

When blue discoloration of nails is associated with concomitant diseases, the root cause is necessary, that is, the disease itself, since the change in this case is a cause for alarm and medical examination.

The above category includes circulatory disorders and heart failure. Improper blood circulation can be recognized by blueness of the fingertips along with a change in the shade of the nails. This condition requires medical supervision, since, with an unfavorable course, it entails such serious complications like gangrene of the limbs. Heart failure is also characterized by blue discoloration of the upper phalanx of each finger. Heart failure provokes organ hypoxia, pulmonary edema and, without proper therapy, leads to death.

Other reasons

Fungus also causes blue nails. different kinds which tend not only to influence the color of the horny plates, but also to modify their shape beyond recognition. Eliminate fungal diseases anti-inflammatory drugs and specialized ointments - Exoderil and Lamisil, for example.

Unqualified treatment of nails in beauty salons, application to them cosmetics of dubious origin, wearing tight shoes - all these factors can disrupt natural look horny plates, giving them a blue sheen. In the majority similar cases It is easier to prevent a problem than to fix it. Do not attend procedures that are advisable

“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:

Such signs require immediate assistance from a medical professional.

If with hypothermia everything is clear - the matter is in the capillaries themselves, which narrow from the cold, but expand at normal temperatures, and there is no danger, then other signs pose an undoubted threat to health.

Blue lips may indicate oxygen starvation - i.e. from long enough inhalation of toxic gases or vapors, 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 (trauma, 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 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, immediate treatment in a hospital is required.

Probably every person at least once in his life has seen a passerby with blue lips. Similar phenomenon In no case should it be ignored, since this indicates significant problems of the human body. If your lips begin to turn even a little blue, be sure to consult a doctor. You should also see a doctor if you experience a rapid heartbeat, blue nails, increased temperature, sweating, severe coughing and problems with normal breathing.

Causes of blue lips

IN medical practice Blue lips are called cyanotic. This phenomenon can be caused by a number of factors that should definitely be paid attention to, since this indicates certain malfunctions in the human body.

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

The second common cause of blue lips is smoking and constant exposure to the human body increased amount toxic gases.

In some cases, in addition to the availability of blue color lips, you can also observe a very pale shade of the skin. In this case, we can say that the patient suffers from iron deficiency anemia. Most often, anemia causes blue lips during pregnancy. Iron is one of the most important trace elements that takes part in many processes in our body. In particular, iron is one of the components of hemoglobin, which is responsible for the red tint of blood. Lack of hemoglobin can be associated not only with a lack of iron in food, but also with frequent and heavy blood loss (during menstruation, severe injuries and peptic ulcers).

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

If red lips change their natural color over time, and the patient 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 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 of this, most of the blood begins to flow from these vessels to the internal organs: the brain, kidneys and heart, thus maintaining constant temperature of the whole body. Normal color of lips and skin occurs only if blood moves through the vessels constantly at the same speed and in the usual volume. It will be possible to return pale lips to their pink color after warming the body, as well as a number of activities that will help small blue ones. blood vessels no longer visible through the thin skin of the lips.

Sometimes blue lips occur in people with Raynaud's disease, when blood vessels in the extremities burst under exposure to low temperatures or from severe stress. Human body tries to replenish the vessels with blood, which ultimately gives the body a blue tint.

Blue lips during pregnancy are a sign that the expectant mother’s body lacks iron. This problem is quite common, so today there are already known drugs that can help resolve it.

What measures should you take if you have blue lips?

Wrap yourself well in a warm blanket or terry towel, which will allow your body to quickly warm up. Blood will begin to circulate faster through the internal organs and rise from them to the limbs and lips.
You should drink hot tea. You need to be careful when drinking hot coffee, since the caffeine it contains causes vasoconstriction.
Sports activities (running, aerobics, etc.) will quickly warm the body and give it a pink tint, which will help oxygen reach all tissues of the body.
Set yourself a goal to quit smoking. Tobacco smoke and nicotine reduce the flow of oxygen to tissues and lead to rapid vasoconstriction.

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Have you ever met people whose lips were normally bluish? This is not the latest fashion, it is a serious disruption to the functioning of this person’s body, and such a phenomenon cannot simply be ignored. If you notice that your lips suddenly turn blue, visit a doctor immediately. Note that in case of simultaneous presence of other symptoms (blue nails, rapid pulse, sweating, elevated temperature, cough, difficulty breathing), a visit to the doctor should not be postponed.

Why do lips turn blue?

In professional terminology, this effect on the lips is called “cyanosis.” You should not hope that this phenomenon is temporary and will go away on its own. This is a clear sign that significant changes have occurred in the body (and not in better side), so don’t hesitate to get qualified help.

Doctors determined main reason blue lips - lack of oxygen in the blood. As a result, blue discoloration is observed not only in the mouth area; such a manifestation can form anywhere in the skin and mucous membranes of the body. This is the result of increased levels of reduced hemoglobin in the blood. And the reason is very simple: the functionality of the cardiovascular system is impaired.

Experts have identified another reason for blue lips. This manifestation is observed in people who are heavy smokers, since there is constant poisoning of the body with increased doses of toxic gases.

Unnatural paleness of the skin may also be obvious manifestations. The diagnosis is a lack of iron in the blood (iron deficiency anemia). Blue lips also occur in the absence of bad habits, for example, in a woman during pregnancy. Iron plays an important role in the course of most processes in our body. The substance affects the formation of hemoglobin - that's why our blood is red. Reduced hemoglobin associated not only with iron deficiency in the blood (meaning, for example, poor nutrition), the cause may be frequent and intense blood loss - during female cycle, for peptic ulcers, from severe injuries and cuts.

Blue lips are a fairly common symptom of the pathology. respiratory tract. A disease called croup occurs more often in children under 4 years of age. It is not difficult to notice: blue lips, difficulty breathing, a strong “barking” cough.

Changing your natural lip color is just external manifestation. It may also be accompanied by rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. This obvious signs that the patient has heart or lung problems. Anything can follow, from inflammation of the bronchi to asthma or heart attack. There is only one reason - oxygen starvation. Blue lips occur in people with vascular problems, for example, pulmonary embolism. The patient will not be able to cope with this disease on his own; emergency medical care is required.

Blue lips also occur with severe hypothermia. As a result, the vessels narrow, and the blood does not flow through the vessels sufficiently to completely fill them. Instead of uniformly filling the circulatory system, blood will be directed to the internal organs (heart, kidneys, brain) in order to at least maintain the required temperature in them. The natural color of the integumentary tissue is the result of constant blood circulation throughout the system at a uniform speed. To give your lips a pink tint again, you need to apply a series of preventive actions to warm the body and dilate blood vessels to restore normal circulation. Then the small blue blood vessels will not be so clearly visible through the skin.

There is also another cause of blueness around the lips - Reynod's disease. In patients under the influence of severe cold temperatures, overexertion or stress small vessels they might just burst. The body independently tries to establish natural blood exchange, resulting in a change in the color of the integumentary tissue.

In the body of a pregnant woman, processes constantly occur that do not occur in the normal state. So, iron deficiency is one of the particular manifestations of this situation. Here the reason can be easily eliminated: it is necessary with the help of a special drug effects replenish iron deficiency in the blood.

What to do if your lips turn blue?

First of all, take care of your body sufficient level warmth, if necessary, you can additionally wrap yourself in a warm blanket or dress warmer. Circulation will be restored, and blood will be able to flow calmly to all extremities and to the lips.

Drinking hot water also helps. True, in this case, not all drinks are equally effective; coffee, for example, on the contrary, promotes vasoconstriction. This is how a substance called caffeine affects the body.

Return quickly normal temperature the body will be helped by intense physical exercise, for example, running, jumping, gymnastics. Physical exercise help increase vascular tone, which makes blood circulate faster.

If you smoke, try to quit as soon as possible bad habit. It has been noticed that nicotine and tobacco smoke affect the natural flow of oxygen into the blood, causing blood vessels to narrow and body temperature to decrease.

If these measures do not help, or you are absolutely sure that the cause of your blue lips is not smoking or hypothermia, then consult a doctor as soon as possible. Especially if other negative symptoms are present at the same time.