Why do lips turn blue when there is a cerebral hemorrhage? Dark lips: how to fight

It is known that when hypothermia occurs, the skin of an adult acquires a blue tint, and almost everyone knows about this fact. But if it changes its color, without visible reasons this is an alarming sign and indicates health problems. In the language of professionals similar phenomenon is called "cyanosis". Blue lips are not a temporary effect; you should not think that it will go away on its own after a while.

If the symptoms described below appear along with bluish skin, you should urgently consult a specialist:

  • The heart is beating faster;
  • Nails turn blue;
  • Feeling of lack of air;
  • High body temperature or fever;
  • A cough appears.

Blue lips can be caused by prolonged exposure to the cold.

First of all, it is worth finding out what causes blue lips and, in general, why do lips turn blue in an adult?

  • Long stay in the cold. Circulating blood through the vessels provides the skin with pink tint. When the body becomes hypothermic, the body's resources are redistributed in order to warm the internal organs. The vessels that carry blood to the extremities (including the lips) narrow from the cold, causing blood flow to decrease. For this reason, the skin becomes blue and the lips lose sensitivity. This is why lips turn blue. In order to restore blood circulation, return normal skin tone and provide the body necessary substances Warmth is needed. As soon as the lips regain their pink color we can assume that everyone's work internal systems restored.
  • Also, the question “why do a person’s lips turn blue” can be answered with information about a lack of oxygen. It is promoted by such a bad habit as smoking. Fasting occurs from the effects of toxic gases on the body, which are released when a cigarette smolderes. But the worst case of oxygen deficiency may be cardiovascular disease. Doctors call skin cyanosis hypoxemia or in another way low level oxygen in the blood. The disease got its name from the ancient Greek word “dark blue”, since its main symptom is cyanosis of the lips, skin and mucous membranes. Lips darken due to the fact that during a lack of oxygen in the blood, the level of hemoglobin decreases.
  • Anemia due to iron deficiency is another reason why lips turn blue in an adult. Iron, which enters the body with food, helps form hemoglobin, the level of which determines the pink tint of the skin. If a person has an unnatural pale skin and lips with a characteristic purple hue, most likely the problem is a lack of iron in the body. A small amount of iron-containing protein may not depend on poor nutrition, but it can also be caused by excessive blood loss. Excessive blood loss means copious discharge during critical days, opening of an ulcer or severe injuries that led to rupture of blood vessels.
  • If the pulse is increased, there is a problem with breathing and the lips change their color from pink to purple, then the functions of the lungs or heart are impaired. Blueness of the skin and a purple tint in the corners of the mouth can be associated with a heart attack, with the appearance of a blood clot in the vessels of the lung tissue, with diseases that are accompanied by a lack of air, such as asthma, pneumonia or bronchitis. If these symptoms occur, you should urgently call emergency medical help.
  • In the case where a child suffers severe barking cough, which is accompanied by a sharp blueing of the lips, is required urgent help pediatrician To save the child’s life, immediate hospitalization is necessary, since diseases associated with the respiratory system cause severe form croup in children. They begin to complain of breathing problems or a feeling of tightness in the throat. In order to help a child, you should not use funds traditional medicine, let better doctor will give his recommendations.
  • Raynaud's disease is also the answer to the question “why does it turn blue?” underlip" A sharp drop in temperature, severe stress, overexertion - all this contributes to the fact that small vessels cannot withstand and burst. Therefore, a change in color in some parts of the body or skin indicates that blood metabolism is disrupted, and the body itself is trying to bring it back to normal.


A child may have blue lips dangerous symptom diseases in the body

How to find out why a child's lower lip turns blue? If his body or face turns blue, immediate diagnosis and treatment is necessary, as cyanosis may indicate dangerous problem with his health. Lips of blue color one of the most important symptoms of central cyanosis, but temporary blueness of the skin around the mouth while the child is crying or eating is not dangerous. This effect may also be caused increased activity in a child or an outburst of anger. In such situations, only the skin around the lips becomes blue, and not the lips themselves, while the pink tint should remain on the tongue and oral mucosa.

By carefully examining the child's nails, lips and tongue, you can find out whether a given case of cyanosis is dangerous or not. Their pink tint indicates that the child has colorectal cyanosis and there is no need to be afraid, but if they turn blue, emergency medical care is urgently needed.


We need to find out the cause of blue lips

When people's lower or lower back turns blue upper lip you need to find out what is causing this and begin to eliminate the cause.

The first step is to ensure a sufficient level of warmth for your body. To do this, you need to use a warm blanket in which you can wrap yourself or put on warm clothes. Restoring blood circulation in this way will ensure that it flows freely to the limbs and lips and their normal color returns.

Hot drinks also help cope with this problem. But not all of them act the same. For example, coffee, on the contrary, constricts blood vessels due to a substance acting on the body, which is called “caffeine”.

Intense physical activity can increase vascular tone and make blood circulate faster. Gymnastic exercises, as well as running or jumping, bring body temperature back to normal.

Smoking is a bad habit, and getting rid of it also helps solve this problem. The narrowing of blood vessels, and as a result the decrease in body temperature, depends on the natural flow of oxygen into the blood. Smoke from tobacco and the nicotine present in cigarettes have a negative effect on it.

If, along with blue lips, other negative symptoms described at the beginning of the article appear, and they are not associated with bad habits or prolonged exposure to the cold, you should urgently seek help from medical worker. Having found out the reason why the corners of an adult’s lips turn blue, he will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

The appearance of the lips is an indicator of health. Let's look at why lips turn blue, the main reasons, associated symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Cyanosis, that is, turning blue skin and mucous membranes, this is not independent disease, but a sign of certain disorders in the body. According to their structure, lips are divided into three zones:

  • Internal, covered with 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 acquires a bluish tint, this indicates serious problems with the body.

The main reasons for unpleasant changes:

  1. Oxygen starvation and hypoxemia - occur due to decreased oxygen levels in the body. The skin takes on a purple-blue color. Most often, this condition is associated with the following factors:
    • Full or partial absence oxygen in the air. For example, smoking leads to a decrease in oxygen circulation in the alveoli of the lungs.
    • Prolonged lying down causes air stagnation in the lungs.
    • Surgical interventions using anesthesia.
    • Overlap respiratory tract foreign bodies and particles.
    • Violation of the integrity of the lungs.
  2. Prolonged stay in a room/space with low oxygen content.
  3. Various hormonal changes in the body, including pregnancy.
  4. Hypothermia and rapid rise to altitude.
  5. Increased physical activity.
  6. Intoxication of the body food products or overdose medications.
  7. Diseases of the cardiovascular system (chronic pathologies, congenital anomalies).
  8. Iron-deficiency anemia.
  9. Pathologies of the circulatory system.
  10. State of shock caused by anaphylactic or septic shock, blood loss, or spinal cord/brain injuries.
  11. Reynod's disease - due to stress and overexertion, small blood vessels burst, changing the color of the lips and other areas of the skin.
  12. Respiratory disorders.

Cyanosis may appear 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, a change in the color of the nails, or suffocation appears, then this condition is very dangerous. The exact cause of the defect can only be determined after a comprehensive examination. Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor prescribes the most appropriate treatment.

Why do adults' lips turn blue?

There are many factors that provoke cyanosis in different areas of the skin and mucous membranes. Let's look at the most common reasons why an adult's lips turn blue:

  • Oxygen deficiency in the blood and injury to small capillaries. Changes are observed in the tissues of the lips, ears, tip of the nose and fingers. The skin is bluish 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, and swelling appear. lower limbs, dull pain in the sternum area.
  • Diseases of the respiratory system with impaired gas exchange. In the vessels there is increased concentration carbon dioxide, which gives the dermis its characteristic shade. Impaired functioning of the bronchi, lungs, as well as congenital anomalies of the heart septa provoke central cyanosis.
  • Intoxication of the body with chemicals, medications, food products.

Increased physical activity, emotional distress, prolonged hypothermia or exacerbation chronic diseases, can also cause pathological changes. If cyanosis has a peripheral form, then the blue lips are cold, with diffuse form fabrics remain warm. Changes that occur in a short period of time are the most dangerous, as they may indicate blockage of blood vessels with blood clots, asphyxia, and suffocation.

Why do my child's lips turn blue?

The condition in which children develop cyanosis in certain areas of the body is familiar to many parents. There are many reasons why a child’s lips turn blue, let’s look at the most common ones:

  • Congenital heart defect.
  • Neonatal pneumonia.
  • Asthmatic condition.
  • Sudden hypothermia of the body.
  • Septic shock.
  • Oxygen starvation.
  • Allergic reactions for food and medicine.
  • Intracranial hemorrhages.
  • Meningoencephalitis.
  • Brain swelling.
  • Calcium deficiency and excess phosphate in the body.

The appearance of cyanosis can be caused respiratory diseases. Children under 3 years of age are often diagnosed with croup. This pathology is characterized by inflammation vocal cords, severe laryngeal stenosis, dry cough, wheezing, elevated body temperature.

The painful condition occurs due to spasms of the larynx - affective-respiratory syndrome. The pathology is characterized by a sudden cessation of breathing during inhalation and the inability to exhale. Occurs due to increased excitability nervous system. The child turns pale and then blue. ARS is 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, the affective-respiratory syndrome goes away by the age of eight.

If cyanosis of the lips occurs too often and is accompanied by additional symptoms ( painful sensations behind the sternum, high blood pressure, convulsions, loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, appetite disturbances, deterioration in general health), then you should immediately seek medical attention medical care. 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 my lip turn blue?

Problems with the cardiovascular system are the main reason why the lip turns blue. Due to attempts to replenish the vessels with blood, the tissues become cyanotic. The symptom is associated with a deficiency of hemoglobin in the vessels, which gave oxygen to the tissues and were not restored. This condition occurs when there is a lack of iron in the body, folic acid, vitamin B12 and protein.

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 in the lungs and pathologies that cause disturbances in bronchial conduction.

If the painful condition persists for a long period of time, periodically makes itself felt, or occurs with additional symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help. The sooner the cause of the violation is determined, the higher the chances of avoiding all sorts of complications.

Why does my upper lip turn blue?

Everyone has encountered such a problem as cyanotic skin tone at least once. Why does the upper lip turn blue, what factors cause the changes and how to eliminate them? Let's consider the main causes of the unpleasant symptom:

  • Violations by pulmonary systems s – it could be a thromboembolism pulmonary artery, prolonged stay under water or on high altitude, exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe form of 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, birth defects, temporary cardiac arrest.

In addition to the above factors, the disorder is observed in case of overdose medicines, for diseases of the circulatory system, exposure to cold air or water.

Why does my 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 body's resources are redistributed to warm the internal organs as much as possible. That is, disruption and reduction of blood circulation through the vessels leads to changes in skin color and loss of sensitivity. As soon as the color of the tissue returns to normal, we can assume that the body’s functioning has been restored.

  • Changes may be due to lack of oxygen. Smokers often experience this. Due to the toxic gases released by a cigarette during smoldering, hypoxia occurs, that is, oxygen starvation.
  • Another possible factor in the disorder is cardiovascular disease. In this case, the skin and mucous membranes acquire a dark blue, purple tint.
  • A change in skin tone with increased heart rate and difficulty breathing is a violation of the function of the lungs or heart. Blueness at the corners of the mouth may indicate a heart attack or blood clot formation in the blood vessels lung tissue, asthmatic condition, pneumonia.
  • Reduced level hemoglobin due to iron deficiency anemia. Iron protein deficiency occurs due to poor nutrition and excessive blood loss.

Cyanosis occurs with Reynod's disease. This pathology associated with severe stress and emotional distress, accompanied by low temperature, paresthesias, blood metabolism disorders.

Why does it turn blue around my lips?

A cyanotic tint to the skin and mucous membranes indicates serious problems in the body. To determine why the lips turn blue, especially if it appears too often, you should seek medical help and undergo a comprehensive diagnosis.

In most cases, the painful condition is associated with oxygen starvation. The skin and mucous membranes become purple due to an increase in reduced hemoglobin in the blood or a decrease in oxygen levels. A similar condition is typical for 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. The painful condition is also typical for heart attack, especially if there are signs of rapid heartbeat, fainting, and sharp deterioration 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 in good condition the color of the tissue should be pink, thereby indicating good blood circulation.

The main cause of the disorder is affective-respiratory syndrome. It comes from crying pain and a number of other factors related to 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 in spasm. The attack lasts from a few seconds to 5-7 minutes, but on average it lasts about 30-60 seconds. If the period of apnea is prolonged, then loss of consciousness is possible - an atonic non-epileptic attack due to acute oxygen deficiency brain.

Distinctive features of ARS:

  • Severe cyanosis or pallor of the skin.
  • Increased sweating.
  • Weak muscle excitation.
  • Slow recovery after an attack.

Very often, the rolling up in crying is interrupted after breathing stops and the body briefly goes limp for 5-10 seconds. The spasm of the larynx is reflexively relieved, the child does sharp breath or exhale. The condition is gradually recovering. 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 reflex removal muscle spasms, the child begins to breathe, blood circulation and skin color are restored. According to medical statistics, such attacks occur with equal frequency in both boys and girls aged 6 to 18 months, in rare cases up to 5 years.

In any case, blueness of the skin is a signal that the body is not receiving enough oxygen. This condition is associated with the presence in the venous blood of pathological hemoglobin derivatives that are unable 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. As you grow older, it goes away on its own.

If blue lips occur too often or occur with additional symptoms, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will determine the characteristics of the disorder (physiological, pathological) and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.

Why do newborns' lips turn blue?

A cyanotic skin tone in infants is very often observed in the first months of life, causing panic among parents. Blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle can be associated with both physiological and pathological factors. Let's take a closer look at why a newborn's lips turn blue:

  • Decreased oxygen concentration in the blood. Normal indicator is in the range of 92.5-95%, but due to severe crying and overexertion, it drops below 92%. This is observed when the body is hypothermic, light and thin skin with blood vessels close to its surface.
  • Infectious diseases with difficulty breathing. In addition to cyanosis, shortness of breath and increased pallor of the extremities appear. Without timely treatment pathological symptoms become more pronounced.
  • The presence of a foreign object in the respiratory tract. If the baby’s lips have never changed color before, but now cyanosis occurs with difficulty breathing, then an examination of the respiratory tract should be performed. If necessary, call an ambulance.

In addition to the above reasons, blueness of the lips, which persists for long period time may also indicate the following disorders: congenital heart disease, pulmonary artery malformation, heart failure. At the same time, the most common defect of the cardiovascular system is non-closure oval window. With this pathology, arterial and deoxygenated blood mix, reducing oxygen saturation and causing cyanosis.

A painful condition in newborns occurs due to insufficient development of the respiratory system. To eliminate this problem, 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 a pediatrician, neurologist and cardiologist.

Why do lips turn blue during physical activity?

Oxygen starvation is the main reason why lips turn blue during physical activity. Overload hypoxia develops due to a lack of oxygen, which is burned when replenishing energy resources during increased activity.

Blood circulation in the periphery, that is, on the lips and limbs, is reduced, causing cyanosis. Such hypoxia is physiological, that is, it is not dangerous, since the condition is restored after completion of high loads.

If additional symptoms occur:

  • Increased sleepiness.
  • Lethargy.
  • Headaches and dizziness.
  • Noise in ears.
  • Lethargy.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Cramps.
  • Impaired consciousness.

This may be a sign of cardiovascular disease. This condition requires careful comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.

Why do lips sometimes turn blue?

Many of us, at least once, have wondered why our lips sometimes turn blue. In most cases, this is due to hypothermia, increased physical activity, consumption of coloring products or substances that cause intoxication. After expiration irritating factor the condition is normalized, the color of the skin and mucous membranes is restored.

Let's take a closer look at the possible causes of cyanosis:

  • Hypothermia - changes in skin color are associated with disruption of constant blood circulation through the vessels. Due to cooling, a redistribution of resources occurs, that is, all the body’s forces are rushed to warm up internal organs. Blood vessels in the lips and limbs narrow, reducing blood flow. Because of this, the tissues acquire a bluish tint and lose sensitivity.
  • Iron deficiency anemia - pink skin color is caused by hemoglobin, the formation of which depends on the amount of iron supplied with food. In this case, cyanosis is associated with poor nutrition, heavy blood loss, injuries, complications peptic ulcer.
  • Oxygen starvation - occurs due to toxic substances affecting the body. This condition is very often observed in smokers.
  • Disorders of the lungs and heart - tissue changes are accompanied by rapid pulse, shortness of breath, and deterioration in general well-being.
  • Croup (stenotic 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, you should seek medical help.

Why do the corners of my lips turn blue?

Discoloration 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 collect an anamnesis and diagnose the possible causes of the unpleasant symptom.

Most often, blueness of the corners of the lips occurs due to pathologies of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Local cyanosis is characteristic of asthma, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia. If, against this background, breathing occurs and the pulse increases, 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's take a closer look at why lips turn blue in the cold. The normal pink color of the skin and mucous membranes is ensured by constant blood circulation through the vessels. When exposed to the cold for a long time, a redistribution of resources occurs. The body devotes all its strength to warming the internal organs.

Blood vessels begin to narrow, gradually reducing blood flow. As a result, 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 changes, you should dress warmly, maintaining normal blood circulation. If cyanosis has already appeared, then you can drink warm tea or play sports, since moderate physical activity distributes oxygen throughout all tissues of the body.

Why do poppers turn my lips blue?

The slang name for many chemicals used by inhalation is poppers. They are volatile and flammable liquids with a distinct aroma (from sweet or fruity to very unpleasant). Such substances quickly decompose when exposed to oxygen and sunlight.

Poppers were originally used in medical practice for treatment asthmatic attacks. The patient inhaled nitrate vapors, stabilizing breathing and blood circulation. Today, this method of treating asthma is not used, since more effective and safe drugs. 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.
  • Exciting drugs, erection stimulants.

Many people taking this kind substances, the question often arises: why do poppers turn your lips blue? The main danger is chemical active drugs in their incorrect use. Prolonged contact with skin and mucous membranes causes acute poisoning, contact dermatitis and burn.

Poppers are contraindicated for diseases of the cardiovascular system, anemia, and pregnancy. These conditions themselves can cause cyanosis, but eating poppers increases the risk of cyanosis. Danger adverse reactions increases significantly with alcohol intake and narcotic substances. A cyanotic tint may be associated with circulatory disorders caused by increased heart function and changes blood pressure due to nitrates.

Why does a child's lower lip turn blue?

When answering the question why a child’s lower lip turns blue, one should carefully evaluate general state baby's health. The main reason for this cyanosis is a 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 underdevelopment of the circulatory and respiratory systems. Changes occur with hypothermia of the body and affective-respiratory syndrome. In the latter case, cyanosis appears due to the baby's intense crying.

A bluish tint to 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 undergo a set of laboratory tests and fluoroscopy chest, 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 you age, your body begins to undergo irreversible changes. The skin and mucous membranes lose their elasticity and become cyanotic. Why lips turn blue with age is most often associated with the following factors:

  • Chronic course of diseases of internal organs.
  • Pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
  • Damages of the circulatory system.
  • Acute respiratory diseases.
  • Reduced level of hemoglobin in the blood.
  • Bad habits(smoking, alcoholism).
  • Use of certain medications.
  • Intoxication of the body.
  • Oxygen starvation.
  • Foreign bodies entering the trachea.

To determine why lips turn blue in adults or children, you should seek medical help. Diagnostics is especially necessary when frequent attacks cyanosis, which occurs with additional symptoms that disrupt the functioning of the body.

Doctors identify several factors that explain why lips are blue.

  1. Lack of oxygen. In this case, not only the lips turn blue, but also other mucous membranes. First of all, oxygen starvation indicates disturbances in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
  2. Smoking. Cigarettes are very large quantities contribute to the gradual accumulation of toxic substances in the body.
  3. Anemia. It occurs when there is not enough iron in the body. And when there is a lack of this microelement, a lack of hemoglobin occurs, which is responsible for the red color of the lips.
  4. Lung or heart problems. In this case, the pulse quickens and breathing is delayed. One of probable causes There may also be a blood clot in the lungs. In this case, you should immediately go to the doctor.
  5. Hypothermia. This, by the way, is the most common reason. The blood vessels narrow and do not allow blood to flow freely into them. Therefore, the shade of the lips or skin surface changes.
  6. During pregnancy blue lips appear if a woman’s body lacks iron. Fortunately, there are now many drugs available to combat this problem.
  7. Children may develop blue lips if they suffer from a severe form of the disease called croup. It is accompanied by a severe cough, and children may sometimes complain that their lips hurt. In this case, you should not use folk remedies, and immediately consult a doctor so as not to complicate the disease.

Methods to combat blue lips

If your lips turn blue as a result of hypothermia, you need to take the following measures:

  • Wear warm clothes to warm your body faster. This way, blood will begin to circulate faster throughout the body and gradually reach the superficial vessels.
  • Drink a hot drink. It's better if it's tea. You should not drink coffee, as the substances it contains only constrict blood vessels.
  • If blue lips appear constantly, start exercising. Running or aerobics promote active blood flow to all organs and tissues.
  • You definitely need to quit smoking. The longer you are a smoker, the higher the percentage of accumulated nicotine in your body. A tobacco smoke, which you constantly inhale, reduces the amount of oxygen in the tissues and significantly constricts blood vessels.

There are several more warning signs, if they appear, you should immediately seek help from your doctor. If observed along with blue lips following symptoms, he sees there’s no point in postponing:

  • A sharp increase in heart rate
  • Feeling of heat throughout the body
  • An increase in body temperature that does not decrease over time
  • Blue nails and nose
  • Difficulty breathing.

In any case, if you have blue lips even in the summer heat, you should not ignore this fact. This reaction to cold is quite normally explained by the physiological and protective properties of the body. But in all other cases, this is a very alarming signal, ignoring which will lead to serious illnesses in the future.

Changes in lip color and texture indicate the appearance of various problems associated with internal imbalances. Why do lips turn blue? Is this a sign of what disease in an adult? Only a specialist can answer these questions after conducting comprehensive examination.

Most often, it is the lack of oxygen that causes blueness, and the blue-violet color characteristic feature hypoxemia. The causes of this condition may be:

  • lack of oxygen (for example: when smoking, the circulation of oxygen in a person’s lungs decreases);
  • inactivity during illness causes stagnation of processes in the lungs. For example, it is much more difficult to recover from sputum, since bacterial damage to the lung tissue occurs;
  • blockage of the respiratory tract due to a foreign object entering it;
  • surgery, in which a person requires general anesthesia.

Asthmatic disease or iron deficiency

A person with asthma often experiences “blueness.” And this is not surprising, because the disease itself indicates a lack of oxygen, which occurs due to difficulty breathing. During an attack of bronchospasm, insufficient oxygen enters the lungs, which causes blueness.

If there is a disturbance in the production of blood corpuscles, in other words, with low hemoglobin (which is responsible for skin color), the disease anemia begins to develop in the body. The disease does not occur on its own; it appears after suffering various injuries and illnesses associated with blood loss. This diagnosis can be made correctly only after conducting many studies, the first of which should be a routine blood test.

Pathological processes in the human respiratory organs

When pathologies occur in the respiratory system, blue lips are the most common symptom. In childhood, blue discoloration can occur due to a disease such as croup. With this disease, involuntary compression of the larynx, a severe coughing attack and a significant increase in body temperature in the child occur. When blue lips appear, which are accompanied by a severe cough, the person requires immediate hospitalization.

This is when small blood vessels burst when sharp decline body temperature or stressful situation. Thus, natural blood circulation is disrupted, the color of the skin changes and a blue tint appears.

In addition, blue lips can be a sign of the development of a certain disease; it can also occur as a result of sudden hypothermia of the human body. At severe hypothermia mainly vasoconstriction occurs, little oxygen enters the blood, which subsequently leads to the development of “blueness” of the lips.

Preventive actions

First of all, everyone, without exception, should not forget that taking care of your health should always come first, and then everything else. We should not forget that not a single change in either the color of the lips or their pigmentation occurs in the human body without apparent reasons. Timely completion of preventive treatment and contacting specialists can not only help prevent the occurrence serious illnesses, but also to preserve the youth and beauty of lips long time.

What to do if your lips are blue

If even the slightest change in color occurs, it is necessary to immediately of the following kind manipulations:

  1. Need to provide the body sufficient quantity heat. To do this, you should wrap yourself in a blanket and drink something hot. If the reason for the blueness is only hypothermia, then they will quickly acquire the desired shade. When choosing a warm drink, it is worth considering the fact that coffee leads to vasoconstriction.
  2. If your lips have not acquired the required color after such manipulations, it is worth taking a blood test to rule out the development of iron deficiency in the human body.
  3. If you have harmful habits, especially such as smoking, then you should think about getting rid of them, since nicotine and tobacco smoke seriously affect the oxygen flow into the blood. When there is an excess of these substances, vasoconstriction occurs and, as a result, the body temperature also goes down, which leads to blue lips.
  4. Only a specialist can fully and correctly diagnose the reason why lips turn blue. Therefore, in addition to a blood test, an ultrasound and cardiogram may also be required.

Video

In this video you will learn what your lips can tell you about your health.

Lips can be considered an indicator of the health of the body, but changes in their color should not always be associated with the manifestation of certain health problems. For example, blue discoloration of the skin is often associated with a banal outflow of blood under the influence of low temperature. This reaction is defense mechanism, allowing to provide vital important organs blood in the required quantity.

Hypothermia human body- a frequently encountered process, not only in winter period. Swimming in summer cold water also affects the color of the skin. If you spend a long time in an unheated reservoir, you can observe blue discoloration of not only the lips, but also the extremities (arms and legs).

This state of the human body does not have any special consequences for health in general. But in order to avoid the development of complications, in the form of colds However, you shouldn’t get too cold.

Causes

Lack of oxygen or hypoxemia

Most often, the problem of blue epidermis occurs when there is insufficient oxygen level in the body (oxygen starvation or hypoxemia). Hypoxemia is characterized by a change in the color of the skin and lips, turning them purple-blue. Reasons for development oxygen starvation May be:

  1. complete or partial absence of oxygen in the air (the presence of unhealthy habits - smoking, entails a decrease in oxygen circulation in the alveoli of the lungs);
  2. obstruction of the airway foreign body(in cases of fainting, a possible cause of overlap is retraction of the tongue);
  3. long-term stay of the patient in a motionless, lying state leads to stagnation of air in the lungs, the formation of sputum that does not pass away, bacterial damage to the lungs, requiring mandatory sanitation using a bronchoscope;
  4. carrying out surgical and planned surgical interventions performed under anesthesia. This item has a number of possible sub-items. Development of hypoxemia during general anesthesia may be due to:
  • violation of the integrity of the lung (collapse), that is, a condition when the space around the lungs is filled with air;
  • ingress of foreign particles (blood clots, fat cells - thromboembolism or fat embolism) and a number of other reasons.

Blue lips with asthma

You can often hear the question, why do lips turn blue in asthma?

This disease itself suggests that the patient experiences a lack of oxygen due to difficulty breathing, which is associated with inflammation of the trachea and bronchi, periods or attacks of bronchospasm. It is at such moments, due to insufficient oxygen supply to the lungs, general muscle tension and abundant blood flow, that not only the violet-blue color of the lips appears, but the neck and face change their color.

Lack of iron in the blood

Next possible reason blue lips may be due to the presence of certain pathologies. A human disease characterized by a lack of iron, and therefore a disruption in the production of red blood cells (hemoglobin), which are responsible for the color of the epidermis, is called anemia or iron deficiency anemia.

In addition to the main symptoms of this disease such as: weakness, fast fatiguability, increased fragility and dullness of hair, quite noticeable changes in pigmentation (discoloration) of mucous membranes, nails, and a pale blue tint of the lips are observed.

Iron deficiency anemia does not develop on its own; the causes of the development of this disease can be: various injuries associated with large blood losses, hidden internal bleeding (with exacerbation of gastric ulcer), heavy menstrual flow or poor quality nutrition.

Diagnosis of this disease, especially at the initial stage, is difficult due to the practical absence clinical picture. The surest way to determine the presence or absence of iron deficiency anemia is a basic blood test. Treatment is carried out based on the identified cause with the appointment iron-containing preparations and an appropriate diet (iron-rich foods - apples, pomegranate, shadberry, beef and others).

Croup in children

In this case, the blueness of the child’s lips is also associated with difficulty breathing. In medical practice, two types of croup are considered - epiglottitis or laryngotracheitis. Both of these forms of the disease are characterized by compression of the larynx, severe cough, elevated temperature and require prompt hospitalization.

The cause of epiglottitis is a bacillus called Pfeiffer's. Pathogens have recently been considered to be the culprit for the manifestation of laryngotracheitis acute infections associated with viral diseases.

Quick help

Most effective method Elimination of oxygen deficiency is aerotherapy or oxygen inhalation. But for iron deficiency forms of anemia, such help will not be effective.

Prevention

For any person, taking care of their health should be a priority, first place. Proper attention and control over the condition of your body is a big step towards timely detection and treatment of possible diseases.

It should be remembered that not a single change, be it a change in lip color, the appearance of age spots, the presence large quantity papillomas, does not occur in human body just. There are reasons for all this. And the lack of a timely response to these manifestations can negatively affect future health.

Timely prevention and contact with a competent professional will help preserve youth and beauty for a long time. long years. And even such a seemingly trifle as a change in the color of your lips can say a lot about your state of health, nutritional status and the presence of any illness.

And of course, all these observations should not concern only the individual. As responsible for their children, parents, first of all, must monitor their health and take care of it.